Content warning. May contain spoilers.
coming out, emotional distress
a poem by Jule Heyen, English
I’m up on stage, welcome all
Excited to come and see my fall?
Come on in, what’s your impression?
Take a seat, hear my confession
See the flash, pose for their pictures
Polite applause from all the figures
While the orchestra prepares
To expose all my affairs
I can hear their cruel song play
Far away, as if a dream
Lyrics pulling me the way
Of their cold, careless regime
Away from curtains where I might
Make an attempt to stay and hide
Away from all their soulless stares
What’s the matter, huh? Who cares?
The audience, they sit and stare
No help, no aid, no tears to spare
Their own masks on their hollow faces
As the stagehand calls out: places!
They watch me from a distance
Laughing when, on their appeal
I scream and cry: well then, good riddance!
Nothing more left to conceal
In the encore, then, I claim
We’re all just playing the same game
Now it’s your turn, make your move:
Pretend you have nothing to prove
Say your thanks and take your bow
What do you do with your life now?
Hiding’s over, secret’s out!
No place for any—or all—doubt