**Its a bit long but if I need a few oppinions on this one. :)**
Act I
8:30 is too early
but I rise
And proceed to sing in the artificial rain.
Back into the desert.
I frown
But the girl in the mirror smiles.
"Emotion displays better when its been wrapped in plastic "
she explains
I dress and head for the stairs.
I don't trip down them this time.
Skipping through the most important meal of the day,
while nibbling on ice. I'm not quite as hungry anymore.
Act II
Hidden
Under
A $10 white T-shirt
We don't sell French fries here,
But popcorn we do.
That'll be $0.50 please
Thank you ma'am and please,
Have a better day than I had yesterday. ( Scars are only skin deep,
but bruises,
those are like memories. )
Pizza= $1.00
Soda= $.55
Soft Pretzel- $.50
With cheese- $.75
Ice-cream- $1.25
Us- $2.49
Without me- Priceless
It's all ready 4:00 you say?
Can't forget to clock out
Act III
Home and half-asleep
Sinking, but this time weightless. I don't always have to be tied down.
I'm gone, to the place I've never visited
in the evening hours
but instead, I waste the daylight on nightmares.
The phone rings.
We talk
And then slowly skirt around the awkward silences
the way a wolf might glide around its prey.
But my lips have no intention of compromise
and your ears slowly fade away.
Conversations end with more difficulty this way.
Act IV
3 hours later...
My eyes are moist,
I can't tell you why
but my eyelashes are crusty
and my fingertips taste of salt.
It's darker now
As the evening sky applies its nighttime makeup
and as I wash mine off.
There's no more mystery around my eyelids
only pale skin above chapped cheeks.
It's almost 12 hours later
and the girl in the mirror has stopped smiling
but she won't frown.
Damn pride.
"The shows still going"
she whispers.
I turn out the light and walk down the hall.
Act V
The phone is silent.
"Where's your strength now?"
It taunts
I'm sick,
waiting for what seems to be nothing leaves me with a stomachache.
The dial tone issues a tune
as I bring the cordless to my ear.
The melody is accompanied by lyrics.
"You're too late. Too late."
My grasp falters,
and the phone falls asleep in its cradle.
I head to my room.
Now I lay me down to sleep...
but my pillow's still damp
I can't tell you why
But my eyelashes are clear for the moment
And my fingertips are tasteless.
Drifting...
Act VI
It's the dead of night,
And silence consumes the helpless.
I am helpless
And I start to fall
But somewhere
Miles away
Or perhaps just in the next room
The phone rings.
Screaming through the deaf and dying air.
I do not move. And minutes
And hours later
the phone joins in with the others buried here.
now my eyes are wet
I cannot tell you why
But my eyelashes will be crusty tomorrow morning
and if I can somehow find a way to move an arm to wipe away the tears,
my fingertips will again taste of salt.