the audition

the actor,
staring into the phone.
practicing her lines, his lines.
the understudy's
lines.
it's raining.
the bus is late.
when will they call.
Shakespeare's been dead a long
time.
but his words
keep ringing and ringing
through
each actor's head.
stardom
just a break away.
one lucky turn.
the right place at the right
time.
the bus is late.
it's raining. there must
be a better
way to make a living.