was a time not long ago
I was akin to a werewolf
a man transformed
into something quite hideous
feeling totally out of place
where I should feel natural
a bard huffing and puffing through his lines
hands shaking – voice trembling
no matter the relaxation and rehearsing in advance
a strange animal to be sure

a malaise that struck early on in childhood
when at the age of eight
I composed my first dirge:

When the moon is up
And the sun is down
Wolfman goes into the town-own-brown-own
Wolfman goes into the town

When the sun is up
And the moon is down
Wolfman goes out of the town-own-brown-own
Wolfman goes out of the town

vividly recalled how I stood up spontaneously
to sing my composition solo
in front of teacher and class
the feeling of horror upon realization
despite no threat or ridicule
all those eyes were focused on me

and though singer and song
survived the audition
from that day on I felt the howl of
uncontrolled adrenaline racing through my veins
whenever returned to center stage

sometimes I could fight the beast
though more often than not
the aforementioned monstrous transformation took place

almost ready to abandon
the performatory side of my vocation
in desperation
I decided to pay a visit to my family physician

Dr. Viener listened intently
jotting down notes as I conveyed my tale of woe
and though my state of agitation clearly visible
he then put down his pen and smiled

“Come come my boy
in this age of medical miracles
there’s no cause for such alarm
the animal you speak of is now easily tamed
thanks to a magic silver bullet called Lorazepam.
Here, make haste, and get this prescription filled.”

and so from that day forward
I’ve been cool as a cucumber
at and on any stage
whether under moon
full, gibbous, or crescent
or in complete sunlight
regardless time of day

© 2003
Revised © 2016



Illustrations courtesy of Microsoft Clip Art

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03/25/2016

Posted on 03/25/2016
Copyright © 2024 Chris Sorrenti