Lights & Curtains

In the coming year I felt,
I felt the ocean tides glowing dark
And the storms taunting me from the horizon
Warning me of the future bloodshed, fear, and blackness

"Are you new here?"

Yet the person who taught me to take risks,
To not take myself and life too seriously,
Offered me a lighthouse on shore
A place where I'd belong, a future
Where I knew I'd be content
How hellos turned to two hour talks after school
How nods were turned to hugs
How "hon" turned to "I love you"
And it felt like, for once
I had a genuine father

"I love you, hon. Be safe."

He taught me theatre, acting, directing,
A profession I've intended to pursue
Since 7th grade, the first year I met him,
He gave me a path lit by lanterns
To guide me
He introduced confidence, happiness, the joys
Of friends and a community
He gave me the feeling
Of being normal, a normal teenager
But special

"If you say no in the middle of a scene, that leaves nowhere for the actors to go."

His disappearance brings tears to my eyes
But his words
Will always be inked on my heart,
And his influence
Will continue to be spread from my own lips

"Take the risk."