glancing about for the lost Elinor
stealing my scene as I spread forth my wings
grieving for lines, more lines to feed to her
so that our acting will not be for naught
peevish my speech can be at times I know
but losing my cue from the script I am lost
and she steps upon my brief monologue
taking center stage and all of the bows
I retreat to the wings and pass back stage
awaiting her exit and her brief kiss
the kiss of death, of our dissolution
with the finale comes the odd expression
the gestures, the hints, the empty regrets
she offers as she removes her makeup
and hanging up the costumes one last time
we end the play, the final performance
cast and crew, we gather for our party
mixing, mingling, matching our scenes, our past
even there, mugging, one upping, losing
as she takes the arm of the producer
the one who pays and really steals the show
as the glow of the footlights dims, we end
