On the stage
under the lights
in front of the auditorium seats
a
Sneering, jeering, laughing
audience at
one on the stage
The spinning shimmering
hologram
of
all my fears
reluctance
guard rails
concrete barriers
perpetrators
and
victims too
rememberings
and
anticipation
stood

Connected to me
by
a long tether
And
along that tether
my
power flowed
away from me

Into the performing
Mannequin
on
that stage.
Who was the puppet master?

In a moment of freedom
or was it just pique
with my golden scissors
the
tether was
cut.

The shimmering stood
for a moment on stage
the crowd became silent
and
looked away.

In my moment
of release
I wished it well
compassion and peace
and
I was finally free.