On Stage

(A single candle on the stage
Burns slowly
A dying requiem in the night)
Poor little marionette
Where is your puppeteer?
Why do your strings lie strewn across the darkened stage
Without the fingers nimble
(Jack be nimble)
to alight your heavy arms
Raise you high, raise you strong, rise arise

Why are the seats clear
Why are the lights dark
Where is the audience to cheer you on
Your puppeteer guiding you
Be bold, but not too bold!
Be fast, be quick
(Jack be quick)
Don't fall, don't stumble, their eyes are on you!

The stage is yours
Freshly varnished wood gleams in the torchlight
Hear them! Hear their cries and cheers!
For you, all for you
Dash the burning candle
Jump high, ride on the fiery euphoria

Don't play with the fire
You'll only get burned
and fall, spiralling, to the dark stage.

Where are the lights? Where are the cheering crowds?

Where is the puppeteer?

Why did they all disappear?

Poor little marionette, all alone

The dying candle flickers

is gone.

Gone.