Trippingly prancing upon the stage boards

glancing about for the lost Elinor

stealing the scene as I spread forth my wings

grieving for lines, more lines to feed to her

so that our acting will not be for naught

peevish my speech can be at times I know

but without a cue from the script I lose

and she steps upon my brief monologue

taking center stage and all of the bows

I retreat to the wings and pass back stage

awaiting her exit and her brief kiss

the kiss of death, of our dissolution

with the finale comes the expression

the gestures, the hints, the empty regrets

she offers as she removes her makeup

and hanging up the costumes one last time

we end the play, the final performance

cast and crew, we gather for our party

mixing, mingling, matching our scenes, our past

even there, mugging, one upping, losing

as she takes the arm of the producer

the one who pays and really steals the show

as the glow of the footlights dims we end