The Magic Show

ARTWORK BY FRANCES AMPARO

 

Begin…

The red, old curtains open.

Spotlight focuses on the mid wooden stage,

and then a man in a black suit with a red beaver hat

enters, wearing that classic joker wide smile.

The First Act

He shuffles a deck of cards,

then asks me to pick one, and…

hands together on my hips, sways proudly as I walk.

Wears a pink loose shirt, tattered black skinny jeans

Then people start to lay their judgmental eyes on me

and glare, followed by a flick of their penciled eyebrows.

“He’s gay,” they say loudly then laugh like the devil…

as I looked at my card, no wonder,

“The Jack of all HATE.”

The Second Act

He grabs a white and furry little bunny,

then puts it in his beaver hat, and…

Those brutal, vulgar words are like knives,

stabbing at my chest a million times.

My innocent and kind heart pumps slowly,

and slowly as it kills me rapidly.

The confidence I had is gone.

… then the magician holds his hat upside down,

The bunny as well is GONE.

The Last Act

White, human-size box is placed on stage,

a huge question mark, painted in front.

He calls me again and commands me silently,

“Come in.”

I sigh anxiously and tell myself,

“I will END this.”

Then the long, ragged curtain closes,

Shimmering lights go off.

Where am I?

Hiding.

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