All the world’s a…
Break a leg, they say before
you make your entrance.
The French, more earthy, say Merde.
Maybe that’s shorthand for break a leg—
what you say after it’s broken and they
carry you off the stage in mid scene.
Weeks of rehearsal for your high school role in
Guys and Dolls, a Hot Box girl. Not a speaking
part but at least you get to sing and dance.
Better than when you had a nonspeaking role
in Into the Woods. Mom said you had the
title role—you were a tree but your dramatic
ambition reached higher than standing there,
holding a sigh that said tree.
So they said break a leg as you pranced
onto stage, well tuned and synchronized.
Before the first take back your mink,
a high right kick sends a sharp pain
into your left ankle, and you fall at the feet
of Adelaide. Alert cast members
whisk you off as the show goes on. You
continue the lyrics through your exit and pain.
Break a leg, they said before
you made your entrance.
The French, more earthy, say Merde.
Maybe that’s shorthand for sprain an ankle—
what you say after it’s sprained and they
carry you off the stage in mid scene.
Azimuth 