Shimmering

Old man walking on the shimmering lake Far off the sun spins wildly over the horizon Like a single hubcap from a car wreck. Sandy wind pocks his face or is it time?

One by one

The bit-part actors

Leave the stage silently.

The audience rises coughing from its seats And files out.

The lights go on suddenly - Old man’s scripted pathos,

Played to empty theater.