Winter's end foretold
by two peculiar items
Woodchuck and Football

Counter to reports
Which place it's chance near zero
A lone snowflake falls

It's been awhile since I've been here
A lot has changed for sure
For one I've no yellow lightning bolt
and my message box is pure

I plan on writing here again
my sometimes strangish prose
If I do it who's to say
but that's the way it goes

If you give a man a fish
He'll eat for a day
but
If you teach a man to fish
he'll eat his whole life.

If you give a man a Twenty
He'll eat for a day
but
If you teach him how to print his own Twenties
He'll most likely be arrested
and sent to a Corporate Penal Profit Center

If I were beaten down one day, what would I do?
I would get angry and
defensive.
I would stand up and fight for myself.
Wouldn't I.

If I were beaten down one week, what would I do?
I would stand on trembling legs,
strong.
I would stand up for myself.
Wouldn't I?

If I were beaten down one month, what would I do?
I would pull myself upright,
wobbling.
But I would stand, for myself.
Wouldn't I?

If I were beaten down one year, what could I do?
I could stand, perhaps leaning against a wall,
wondering.
But I could still stand.
Couldn't I?

If I were beaten down for decades, what should I do?
I should stand or at least sit upright,
take a breath.
I should rest perhaps close my eyes.
Shouldn't I?

If I were beaten down for centuries, what could I do?

It's Opening Night, it's Opening Night
excitement, butterflies and stage fright
there is so much to do
please don't miss a cue

30 minutes
thank you 30

It's Opening Night, it's Opening Night
sound effects, butterflies and stage fright
Oh, the costumes are grand
actors know where to stand

10 minutes
thank you 10

It's Opening Night, it's Opening Night
lighting, butterflies and stage fright
lines have been learned
set pieces to turn

5 minutes
thank you 5

It's Opening Night, it's Opening Night
stage liquor, butterflies and stage fright
the call is to places
and make-up's on faces
the props are all set
but we're not ready yet

house lights out

open the curtain

bring up the lights

and

we're off