Internal Monologue On Roles Poem by Barbara Clafton

There are many roles I play upon this stage of life -
worker, friend, daughter, sister, mother, wife.
Creator, maker, giver, but rarely the receiver,
but the one I fear the most is the most innocent believer.

Naïve and sometimes even stupid,
especially at the hands of Cupid
under the power of another's charm-
My heart can only come to harm.

Actors can chose from which sheet they read,
yet whenever I chose I cause my heart to bleed.
Receiver, believer - could I play the deceiver?
Could I do that to another innocent believer?

Could this actress play the interloper in another's life?
Borrow the leading man on stage from an innocent wife?

Would the hearts broken then, though not just be mine?
Wouldn't those actions of betrayal be unjustly unkind?

But, if all the world's a stage,
can't we just pick up and start again?
Why do leading ladies always
need the roles of leading men?

Why cant the leading lady stand isolated on the stage?
Show the ultimate emotions like fear and rage-
Empty their hearts without shame or guilt
but stand tall before him and never wilt.

I don't like these characters I am forced to portray
I feel that, I myself I betray,
betray all of that I hate inside of me
while wanting to just live my life and be free.