I stride out onto those hardwood floors
A kingsnake mimicking courage.
The peppermint chill of epinephrine
Reels me back to center stage.
I gaze out upon expectant faces
An intimidating crowd of four,
Yet wish it were but a thousand strong—
The frightening less is more.
I sink to a bow while cold metal cuts
Four imprints into my arm,
Then rise and breathe in my pas de deux—
A fine-tuned scene of charm.
I nod to cue the delighted bells

As a fairy alights upon the string.
A millennium’s collection of notes and tales
Lies in wait for my time to sing.
I dance in Oberon’s magic ring
For the enchantment of a page,
But as music engulfs my reverie,
My fingers fall into a cage.
I blink in horror as the chill returns
And the piano forges ahead.
The weight of the curtain falls over my heart,
And the violin betrays my dread.