Behind the curtain,

Beneath the surface,

I am confident.

I am content.

With my being,

With my insightful views,

And with where I am.

When the curtains are drawn,

And the surface becomes vulnerable to scrutinization,

I withhold from speaking my divergent words,

In the hopes that by accommodating,

Conforming,

And converging,

To some common constant,

I will be desired,

Loved,

And wanted.

My mind alternates,

Oscillates,

Between downstage and upstage,

Running back and forth,

As the conditions change.

I find myself rehearsing over and over,

For some undetermined opening night,

When the passion that goes on backstage,

Can be performed with the same amount of confidence,

Passion,

Drive,

And fire.