Take The Stage

1992 COPYRIGHT
BY PETER CHRISTOPHER RAYMOND
(FOR NICOLE "NICKY" FULLER)

WATCHING YOU FROM BEHIND AN UNBROKEN BARRIER
I SEE YOU STARE OUT INTO THE AUDIENCE
UNDER YOUR SUBTLE INFLUENCE AND GUIDENCE
YOU'RE WALKING IN THE SPOTLIGHT IN UNBROKEN CHARACTER
WITH EVERY GLANCE YOU TOUCH EACH CORNER IN SPACE
EXTENDING YOUR SOUL TO THE BACK OF THE HALL
BENEATH EACH SEAT WHERE THE LIGHTS DON'T FALL
BINDING EVERY PAYING ONLOOKER IN YOUR GRACE
BORROWING THE HOURS OF SOMEONE'S IDLE NIGHT
GUARDED FROM THE BOOMING OF THE SUBWAY TRAIN
YOU'RE HANGING IN THE AIR LIKE A WINDBLOWN KITE

YOU'VE PUT YOURSELF IN A VOLATILE POSITION
AS YOU DARE TO MAINTAIN THE VOLATILE TRANSITION
FROM MODERN LIFE TO PORTRAIT ON THE STAGE
DON'T DIGRESS INTO THE CONTEMPORARY AGE
PRECISION FOR YOU IS A VERY REAL CONCERN
IT'S TIME TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON ALL THE DIALOGUE YOU'VE LEARNED
AND WILL NOT LET IT SLIP THAT THE ACTION IS REHEARSED
BATH IT IN THE TECHNIQUE YOU'VE HARNESSED AND NURSED
MAKE US THINK YOU'VE STIFLED YOUR AMBITION
YOU'VE LAPSED TOWARD THE PAST AND TRADITION
FOR YOU IT'S A PLAN AND A SKILLFULL FUSION
OF NINETIES' SENSIBILITY AND TIMELESS ILLUSION

IN THE CURRENT OF THE POWER YOU EMIT
THIS MASSIVE HALL NOW SEEMS SO WARM AND INTIMATE
THE MUSIC SWIRLS IN CURLING CHORDS THAT FILL THE GAPS
THE SOUND IS LUSH AS DIFFERENT LAYERS OVERLAP

AND NOW THE CURTAIN DROPS
AND PEOPLE ARE PICKING UP THE STAGE PROPS
I FEEL THE COLD AIR RUSH AS THE DOORS ARE PULLED APART
THE BARRIERS ARE CUT AS CONGRADULATORY HUGS START
NOW THERE ARE NO DOMINION LINES
AS CONVERSATIONS MERGE AND INTERTWINE
AND NOW THERE IS NO MORE MYSTIQUE
AND PEOPLE'S HONEST SELVES ARE ALLOWED TO SPEAK
YOUR EYES ARE TIRED AND YOU ARE DRAWN
YOUR VOICE IS HOARSE FROM ONE TOO MANY SONGS
YOUR ENERGIES HAVE BEEN CONSUMED
YOU'RE SPEAKING SOFTLY OUT OF COSTUME