Where+I+Am+From

Where I Am From Poem I am from the theatre The cool stage floor The blast of heat from the stage lights

I am from the rehearsals The chatter among friends Being painfully tired after a long day

I am from the set The raunchy scent of paint The aroma of freshly cut wood

I am from the preparations The blindingly bright stage lights The loud sound effects from the booth The bitter stage makeup

I am from waiting offstage The still darkness The pulsing silence

I am from the performances The smiling faces of the attentive audiences The laughter from the red seats

I am from the critiques The immense gratitude from a genuine compliment The genuine gratefulness from constructive criticism

Most of all I am from the memories The times I’ll never forget The friends I’ll never lose The theatre