The Show Must Go On

And here you are all Alice in Wonderlandy,
scenes in the theatre constantly changing,
zither music playing in the background,
a little more frantic than you might expect,
slightly surreal, never quite sure where in the play
you are living or what comes next, or who,
only that you are the straight man,
the steady one, whose mind may be all Jaberwocky,
but never where it can be seen.

About This Poem

I was taught young to “never let them see you sweat.” I think that takes in madness as well. Feel it, never show it.

After all, the show must go on.

I actually hate that teaching. But sometimes things stick with us, don’t they?

The picture was taken at Mass MoCA.

Tom