Applause

Blank Stare,

Blank stares back, look around you.

That same face stares back at you, every turn blank stare.

Move closer to one, place your palm on the mirror,

blink*, you realize the face blinks right back, still blank stare.

Look down, dark skin, see a dim light above lighting my skin, her skin

You see the little lines, all scars

This wasn't your body, it was but it wasn't.

Hair, how did it get soo long?

Blank stare back...then you see it, a tear.

Feel your face, you aren't crying

but this face staring back, tears are rushing down.

You reach to brush them only to be interrupted by the cold surface.

I'm not crying, feel your face again to reassure yourself.

Dry, your face is dry, this face you look at

those eyes no longer give a blank stare, they show pain.

Pain, fear, anger.

You turn around.

All the blank stares share the same mask,

they are all crying, turn around and around

you can't escape it, escape the crying.

Tears running down their faces, staring at me

to feel their pain, to understand it.

They are all crying, turn around and around,

each one of them crying & bleeding.

Blood, you notice blood running down her arm

look down at yours, nothing

but this face, these faces, stare back in pain, she's in pain.

You start screaming "Help!".

Nothing! You run around frantically, screaming "Help!" "Help!".

You pound on the cold hard surface hoping to break it,

break it to set her free, you notice it runs up & down her body.

You notice little tiny scars, blood trickling,

she doesn't notice the blood.

"Are you Ok?" you ask, she just sobs.

You start crying, crying with her,

crying out "Stop, Please Stop. Someone Help!".

you start punching the cold hard mirror now,

must hide but you are surrounded by them.

This isn't real, that's not you ,she is still crying. This is not real.

You keep repeating to yourself that was not, she is not real

& you are not her.

You can still her her crying, you crowd yourself in a corner.

"STOP! STOP! STOP!"

Lights go off & turn back on.

Look up the mirrors are gone,

slows it rises, you are surrounded by curtains.

Slowly raises, bright lights hit your eyes.

You shade your face, noises, claps, brightness lights.

Step up to the stoplight.

"Now ladies & gentlemen, Act II, performed by our very own"

Applause*