Because You'Re a Poet, That's Why - a Repost

Because you’re a poet, that’s why Behind the thick crimson and gold thread curtains he stands listening to the din of the audience searching their seats for popcorn crumbs while roaming hands brush against the legs of those sitting closest The young girls get the winks and free drinks as the old men vie for position, straightening their hair and flashing thick wallets from stretched out back pockets He peeks through the slit in the fancy brocade drapes to find a full house, everyone is here, the self imposed mayor wearing a handmade campaign button shakes hands and seeks signatures Mrs. Broadmore assigns seats in her row as the little people gather around, telling her how beautiful she is while hoping for a glimpse of the diamond crusted gin filled flask she keeps tucked away in her left garter The lights dim as the depressed sulk to their seats in the balcony, broken hearts fill the back rows closest to the bar, cheerleaders in pink lipstick and short skirts, the football team all stoned out of their minds and the debate club collect in the center while the pretty people, the wealthy pose in the front rows He gets the signal as the curtain slowly lifts to the ceiling on well oiled pulleys There is not a sound as he makes his way to the microphone at center stage, dead silence but he reads his poem anyway It is obvious he is no Leonard Cohen but he does his best as he recites the verses he has penned especially for this evening Upon finishing he stares out as two people clap their approval and the others whisper and look away His shoulders drop as he leaves the stage, head hung low, crumbling the paper he had read from and tossing it in the trash as he wonders aloud, “Why, why do I do it?” A janitor sweeping near the exit door hears him and shaking his head replies, “Because you’re a poet, that’s why” I reposted this poem because……..I like this one. : )