Melodies choke my throat
And freeze and hide and burrow
Behind my open lips which part for empty music
Forever eluding me.

Words hide from my straying mind
And fade and ebb and vanish
As the thousands of eyes glare at my parched mouth
Dry and songless. Songless and dry.

My voice mumbles like a backwards step
And trembles and fractures and wanes
With all reservations and spotlights to keep it stumbling
Always faltering.

Here it is— the moment I hate the most
That I detest and loathe and despise
As I sing to this infinitely full theater that listens…
My faceless audience.