I am tired
Of wordless plays
And these scenes
In an empty theater
On days left dark
Writing speeches
Still for silent parts
Unsaid

With emotions
More contrived
Or acts held down
Truly grieving
While believing things
Not mentioned
Still deserve such lines
Get told

By pretending
Some might hear
If conveying truth
Unnoticed
When its dialogue feels
Only natural
Knowing poetry
Never quite sells

Many seats
Like faking this dance
Under stage lights bright
Needing tickets
To watch some lie
Fail completely
So that honest voice
Has their chance

Where the loudest mouth
Is produced
Since exception stems
From each stutter
Over music loud
As distractions
Can deceive who speaks
What redeems

Through achieving dreams
Always hushed
Despite learning art
Defies business
Being humbled now
After shouting
Over crowds engaged
Seeing stars.

• J. Pigno