The curtains close

The lights go down

The stage reset

The costume comes off.

 

But what is left

Behind the mask

Of makeup, of glitter,

Of perfect hair?

 

On stage it's easy.

Looking out between the slits

Of my painted on face.

Always smiling, hoping its fragile surface does not

 

                   Fracture

 

Under the pressure, 

Splitting across, renting huge gashes

In the player's form.

 

                   Fractured

 

Is the illusion.

Crumbling down and down and down

Comes the fourth wall.

 

                    Cracking

 

Leaving room for the backstage actress to

Break free from all this

Paint and

Posture and

Prestige and

Poise.

 

To step through the

                      Cracks.

Cracking further

As the person underneathe

Pulls themselvs free

And

                       Creaking,

As for the first time

In a loong time

They shake off the misuse.

                     

                        Standing

As they see fit.

 

                           Walking

The way they wish to walk.

                            

                          Controlling

The shell they had been forced to wear.

                           

                           Wondering

Thoughts they hadn't been allowed to

                              Think

Of all the

                             Things

We can

                             Accomplish

Because we are now

                           Strong.

Strong to

                           Celebrate

The day, not slink into the night

 

Strong enough to

                         Speek

Their own mind

 

And, as the unfiltered spotlight

                       Shone,

So did they

                       Shine

In their

                       Own

                      Singular

                      Glory.

 

Because they had become

                     One

                       &

                     Two

                       &

                  Together

 

At peace in their own

                     Body

 

And that is truly something to be

                    Grateful

For.

 

Peace of

                  Mind

                     &

                  Body

                     &

                  Soul

                     &

                 Heart

 

Leaving the curtains to

                 Close

On the old day

And the lights to

                 Illuminate

The New.