cheap seats

how can I
throw myself
deeper into
this life?
each second of
the clock
ticking
like the clicking of
a tap dancer’s heels
snapping into
position
and one!
here’s a chance
to leap
into something
new
something vital
worthy
breathless
true

but I let them
pass
each precious tick
riffling and scuffling
shim shaming
and shuffling
one dazzling routine
into the next
as I watch
as I ache
the applause
and the laughter
from here –
all the way
up here,
alone in the
rafters