DR. VEINER’S MAGIC SILVER BULLET

 

   was a time not long ago

   I was akin to a werewolf

   a man transformed

   into something quite hideous

   feeling totally out of place

   where I should feel natural 

   a bard huffing and puffing through his lines

   hands shaking – voice trembling

   no matter the relaxation and rehearsing in advance

   a strange animal to be sure

 

   a malaise that struck early on in childhood

   when at the age of nine

   I composed my first dirge:

 

   When the moon is up

   And the sun is down

   Wolfman goes into the town-own-brown-own

   Wolfman goes into the town

 

   When the sun is up

   And the moon is down

   Wolfman goes out of the town-own-brown-own

   Wolfman goes out of the town

 

 

   vividly recalled how I stood up spontaneously

   to sing my composition solo

   in front of teacher and class

   the feeling of horror upon realization          

   despite no threat or ridicule

   all those eyes were focused on me     

  

   and though composer and song

   survived the audition

   from that day on I felt the howl

   of uncontrolled adrenaline racing through my veins 

   whenever returned to center stage

 

   sometimes I could fight the beast

   though more often than naught

   the aforementioned monstrous transformation took place

 

   almost ready to abandon

   the performatory side of my vocation

   in desperation

   I decided to pay a visit to my family physician

 

   Dr. Veiner listened intently

   jotting down notes as I conveyed my tale of woe

   and though my state of agitation clearly visible

   he then put down his pen and smiled

  

   “Come come my boy

    in this age of medical miracles

    there’s no cause for such alarm

    the animal you speak of is now easily put to rest

    thanks to a magic silver bullet called Lorazepam.

    Here, make haste, and get this prescription filled.”

 

   and so from that day forward

   I’ve been cool as a cucumber

   on any stage

   whether under moon

   full, gibbous, or crescent

   or in complete sunlight

   regardless time of day

 

    © 2003  Chris Sorrenti