the understudy

the understudy
finally gets his chance,
the lead
is ill,
unable to perform,
so he goes on.
having practiced
his lines,
his irish accent,
his stance,
the glint in his
eyes.
he's ready, it's his
stage to win
or lose.
this is how stars
are born,
or die
quickly and painfully
under a
cascade of boos.