Three
Two
One
Heat grips my collar
Sweat runs beneath the paint
The boards kick back beneath my heel
I enter when I please
A blue strip waits at center
I like the way it catches my shoe
The cue lamp changes as I turn
Good timing on their part
I throw my jacket to the side
The brass hits when it lands
I take another step for fun
The lamps follow beautifully
Pulse in my ears
Heat on my face
Rows leaning forward
Give me room
I chose the mark beneath my feet
I chose the turn
I chose the line
Nobody marked these boards for me
No mouth put words in mine
Let them watch (Let them follow)
Let them follow (Let them follow)
I chose the mark
Enter
Cross to center
Hold
Turn
Tonight I leave the sentence early
Let silence hang where I decide
The other actor waits a beat
exactly long enough
I throw in words that were not there
The balcony breaks open laughing
Later the prompt book lies face-up
AD LIB HERE
beside my line
I grin
They know me well
I chose the mark beneath my feet
I chose the turn
I chose the line
Nobody marked these boards for me
No mouth put words in mine
Let them watch (Let them follow)
Let them follow (Let them follow)
I chose the mark
Enter
Cross to center
Hold
Turn
I cross before the cue lamp
The cue lamp catches up
I lift my arm
the snare begins
I hold my breath
the room holds too
I make them wait
Somebody counts behind the curtain
Three
Two
One
I chose the mark beneath my feet
I chose the bow
I chose the light
Nobody marked these boards for me
I found each word in time
Let them rise (Let them roar)
Let them roar (Let them roar)
I chose the mark
Center
Hold
Bow
I take the center for myself
Blue tape beneath both shoes
I bow when I decide to bow
The applause begins
right there