Standing Or Dancing Under Spotlight Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Why aren't you dancing under the spotlight?
Why not dazzle the audience,
With that side of your talents?

'I am sitting here amazed,
How that light can beam centerstage...
And all I want to do is to observe it! '

Why?

'It just occurred to me...
I've never sought spotlight.
And there it is as if teasing.'

Aren't you tempted to bask in it?

'Not at all.
Immediately I would get bored with it.'

Why?

'People would expect me to want to be,
Under it all the time.
Waiting for me to entertain them somehow.
And nothing bores me more than routine.

I am more interested to know...
How someone who controls that spotlight,
Maintains such patience...
Following someone with such ego,
Who seems to want that light on them all the time!
I bet that person has an interesting conversation.'

I never thought about that!

'Me either.
Not until I began to smell that peach cobbler.
Can you smell it? '

Yeah!
Yeah I can!

'When was the last time saw anyone,
Standing under spotlight eating?
Anything? '

Performers aren't allowed to eat onstage.

'On stage?
Performers aren't expected to eat, period.
And...
I want a taste of that pie.
Standing or dancing under spotlight,
Is the furthest thing from my mind! '
Let's go see how much of it is left.'