Ludo

Ludo

Opening night.

There’s a tingle
in the air

amidst the scents of
plush and paint, the
baffled sweat of the actors

Ali hums in that
funny way of his,
rigging the wires

Jo, tight on gin,
adrenaline, sashays
in green carnations

My love a little god
At the sound desk;
Mozart at her fingertips

Acting as box office, I
stutter like a pre-schooler.
I think I might throw up.

Oops, wrong change-

Tom, could I borrow
twenty p?-God, here

it comes- all right, it’s only
a hiccup…

The scary local critic
trolls in with his partner-

please be merciful, give us
a good review…

At last I’m excused.

The usher bolts
the door, gives a
cold snake’s smile.

I’ve missed the first act.

Not many here, just
the usual suspects

straggling to make it
look full-

As usual Aki looks
like he’s just landed

-Yes, you’ve missed
the first part. No,
wait and see.-

-Shit, the audience’s
glaring now…-

I sit, the takings
groaning on my lap.

The world can wait-
this is my time.