Vaudeville Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Substance.
Missing.
None of it appearing.
Identified.
Anywhere appearing.
To know it for what it is.
With this to realize,
It to be...
Part of life and its quality.

Yet...
Entertainment,
From vaudeville to horror.
Crime and corruption.
Lawlessness and it performed.
Leaving an audience applauding,
Left exhausted.
With nothing else to discuss,
Around threatening that goes on.
Most disregard as having substance.

This to regard,
Is an inconvenience.

Less tolerated than a TV commercial.

Or popcorn left to overheat and burn,
In a microwave.
Set at the wrong temperature.