Friday, March 9, 2018

"The Performer'



The Performer

Many an actor stands spellbound
gazing silently into balconies imagined full
as ghosts touch their shoulders
and evening's performance is re-rehearsed
for the thousandth time in a young poet's mind,
hope-filled and hungry, as if behind a scrim,

dreaming

and with fingertips, hesitantly touches
the grand drape which soon will seductively rise,
deep burgundy teasing, slowly revealing ankles, legs, thighs, 
baring all behind proscenium's arch -

tonight's tragedy elegantly framed,
an audience transfixed
before painted scenes and a play writes scripted lines
brought to life by one who

believes.

by Margaret Bednar, March 9, 2018

This is linked with "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Sanaa's Challenge - Curtain Falls".  These two videos are of two of my daughters - the top one is of my daughter who is now in college (this is her senior year's performance as Millie in "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and the bottom video my daughter who is now a freshman in high school is performing a song for her 8th grade graduation.

14 comments:

Sherry Blue Sky said...

What talented daughters you have, Margaret. An awesome post. I loved every line of your poem, and the songs made me smile. You must be so proud!

Sanaa Rizvi said...

This is an absolute treat, Margaret!💖 Your daughter sings so beautifully sigh.. especially love; "hesitantly touch the grand drape which will soon seductively rise"..Thank you so much for writing to the prompt.💖

Debi Swim said...

Wow, to your daughters and to the poem. My two oldest grandsons both have the acting bug and are quite good. I think they would agree with "the grand drape which will soon seductively rise"

Gillena Cox said...

Thanks for sharing your videos. And your stirring write

Much🌼love

tonispencer said...

Such talented daughters and such a talented mother.

Susie Clevenger said...

Beautiful, talented daughters.. I love your poem. My youngest daughter has a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in theater. Your words speak to me of those days of song and stage.

Kerry O'Connor said...

So many hours go into perfecting the act before the curtain is raised. I wonder, sometimes, if the audience truly appreciates that.

Jae Rose said...

Such a unique take on the prompt

Jim said...

Wonderful, Margaret. You, MOM, along with the kids, have EARNED the right to be proud. Liked your poem, the curtain raising was a breath-holding read, in the revealing the setting and performer(s). After the ankles I was hoping for the pretty red dress (or costumes or dress in general).
Our next youngest granddaughter is in Theater at George U. We've only, so far, attended one of her productions, "The Phantom Toll Booth." In that one they didn't use the curtains.
..

brudberg said...

This is so wonderful... what talent and such great descriptions of the anticipation...

Magaly Guerrero said...

The placement of "believe" is just perfect. I really enjoyed the way you built suspense, bit by bit... until we're struck by the roar of that end.

Rosemary Nissen-Wade said...

The poem is lovely is so many ways – and thank you for sharing your daughters' sweet singing.

kaykuala said...

Lucky you Marge, having wonderful daughters whose talents warm the heart! A chip of the old (oops!) block!

Hank

Unknown said...

love this, very lovely capturing the moment before the performance begins, the anticipation/anxiety of the performer, the audience awaiting.
Mary (cactus haiku)