POETRY: An Ode to the Wordplay Theater

This poem is a tribute to my friend DoJayMi. Please lend him some support: https://bsky.app/profile/dojaymi.bsky.social

From the start I've felt alone, No one community has felt like home. The demanding crowds, it was too much No song or joke could entertain such Though things felt different when my friend outstretched his hand Offering his theater, with friends and games so grand What I never prepared for though Was having to do my own show Eight years on a stage in choir But my performance anxiety has never been higher I feel the crowd's gaze, and I run off stage right To disappoint my friends, it's my worst sight I force myself to try again, though not without a mask With fear of vulnerability, for help I'll never ask All feels well as I try my dance Though I feel something crack, and it throws me in a trance Paralyzed by fear, I taste salt and my eyes burn My mask begins to slip, I feel his gaze turn But with shattered pieces on the ground, I'm not met with resent My spectacled friend helps me clean, even as we're spent I can't stop my tears of shame But he reassures me, not everyone is used to fame He pats my head, cracks a joke, helps me stop my tears And doesn't even flinch, he's seen worse in his years We stand again, and we face the crowd, no longer am I alone He gives me a smile, it feels more worthwhile To finally perform on my own I trip and crack once more, but I decide to laugh My friend joins in, and my fear is sliced in half We joke, we play, we dance like never before The curtains fall, and for once I feel warm as we head out the door My best friend hugs me, my fanged friend smiles And now I realize, I'm meant to stay in the Wordplay Theater for a good while