A golden circle
shines through onto
an old wooden O
scarred with
the scuff marks
tap shoe dents
blobs of paint
that no amount of scrubbing
can undo.

This is a place of
magic
the unthinkable happens here.
Fantasy transfigured into
Reality.

A child clad
in a silken gown
gossamer wings
is some unearthly
creature,

A papier-mache clump
Of paste and newspaper shreds
A majestic tree,
Rooted firmly into the
Ground.

History is made here
A simple person rises to
Stardom.
But first they have to learn
How to take a
Step.

The audience is
waiting…
…waiting…
…waiting
for my costumed feet
to grace the stage.
I must do it but
my feet are

paralyzed.

Glued to the floor.

I must move.
But sticky fear
Has me
Caught.

People’s eyes
Bore into my invisible
Silhouette.
Energy like tiny pinpricks.

But then…
The
Energy
Builds
Up
Inside
Me
Until
I
Can’t
Hold
It
In.

I take those precious
Three steps,
Energy overflowing.

I open my mouth
And it all
Bursts out.