Political Theater

“Life or Theater?” by Charlotte Salomon

 

civil dialogue dies
barely noticed
underplayed dimly lit
without violins
her grim opening
death scene
a poor scripted trope
for the end of an era
whose eminence
quietly stilled
bleeds into the boards

prima donnas emerge
utter vapid soliloquies
chewing up scenery
thumbs-in-vest bombast
performed to applause
of each gullible half
in their turn
from intransigent
audience seats
bought by shadows
concealed in the wings

 

 

From my book Pieces of Wine