and so she would sing

And so she would sing
Breath in, exhale
Words on platter
Heart on sleave
The bridge, corus, the end.
Applause

And so she would sing
Breath in, exhale
Words they never
Wanted to hear
Feelings, thoughts, shame
Silence

And so she would sing
Breath in, exhale
Higher and higher
Louder and louder
‘til they listen.
And they wonder

And so she would sing
breath in, exhale
and they finally
understand the meaning
of the words they hear
and they shrink

And so she would sing
breath in, exhale
empty seat,
empty tables
only true fans left
and they applause