ERSATZ

But when I send
them home
my body doubles and stand ins

my understudies
with their
stage props and stilted dialog

muscle bound
doormen standing behind
velvet ropes

buxom cigarette girls
with red lipstick
and starched white collars

when the stage lights
are switched off

will they notice
that the face
behind the mask isn’t mine.

© 2009 Matthew S. Barton