The Actor

He set stage ablaze like no other known before
He juggled faces, as most girls do their shoes
He stood as a warrior with the mighty
A drunkard with the lush, hippy as well
Yes, all things to all men, as he stood in the way

Bouncer, bartender roamer alike
The girls caught his fancy, in like they as well
Preacher to poet, hated by most all
Kept masquerading in new lite, till all would applaud
The country girls swooned, when he walked in the way

Armani, Bally, only the best, displayed
Mont Blanc penned his nature, at least that of day
Yea, from rags to riches, then back again, quick stroke of day
The pendulum still swings, actor holding on her tail
His smile set, to cause sunbursts to fade, to wilt, pale, and look dull

Heart big as outdoors, others saw it only as small
Cradled insecurities gnawed his heart tall small
Ends in abandonment, all rightly so, to smart
For you play not with salesman, or do you tug at kings hearts
For black dark is lurking inside both their hearts

Why not reinvent myself the actor did say
Yea, they never saw me anyway, when I stood in their way
So I'll be what they want, for each I'll be new
I shall follow their lead and do what they do
Yet, they never received him, no matter how new

He remembered now his Fathers words, as he stood boy of ten
Off to first party, girls in dark den, the young actor scared
Girls and the likes, his Father did send him off with these words
Just be yourself son! Well! Sounded like gold to his ear
Nay, the Father saw not, the big parade of day, as the boy wandered out door

Muttering...But just who is that?
For ridicule followed him thick in the way
Clad in poor clothing causing mocking his play
Playground of sorrow, his lot of day
If it werent for the actor, he would never have gotten to play!

He sat now an actor, now old upon stage
Learned much, yea, had been much! Chameleon turning differing in the way
And until this day, when he hears the expression ring
Just be yourself son! He looks up to heaven as tears streamed down face
Head hung, speaks sadly, I was sir, yet, they didn't like me that way!

He shared how he toiled his whole sorry life, to merely be friendly
And find a good wife, wife up and left him, when he found who he was
Friends family of a lifetime, took liberty same month.
He stood now upon stage with no other there to share stare
Looked up to heaven where his Father was there

He spoke very softly as he now trembled in age
Said, Dad, I did just what you said, yet no man befriended me back,
The women only wept! I have been me then lost me, so many times again
I remain now alone with my dogs, my companions, my friends, yea, the animals know me
As do the grand sweeping foul of the air, do see me, I do so declare

Yet man, never knew me, or that I ever was here......

Rodney Evan Bohen