Stage Beauty

Stage Beauty

A fragrant garnish seasons
the fly in the ointment
colorful veil cloaks
the edges of a blank page
designer tapestry shrouds
the folds of well-worn grooves
soft, charming voice muffles
echoes from a lonely soul
well-rehearsed lines obfuscate
the chords of a dissonant mind,
betraying the hauteur guise
the shuffled deck
of a competitive shill
spread on the gilded facade
as she lurks in the shadows
behind the dark curtains or
along the deserted street,
awaiting her next prize
in the background
a brawny voice calls out