Just once more, he begged and pleaded to her A hello and farewell tour as it were She scoffs it’s the silliest thing she’s heard And besides she’s now much too old a bird For what purpose could there possibly be To take on the burden of one like she To argue money came quickly and went Her career had made her quite affluent Nor could he argue for awards or fame Not with world-wide accolades in her name Just one more stand in the glow of limelight Doing the craft that has been her delight Ten years had passed since she last graced a screen And Broadway? Well that was a near fifteen It goes back and forth for a little while But he knows she’s in once he sees the smile That smiles that stops men even as jaded as he It was hard not to rub his hands with glee Some thought she turned a new leaf in life She brought none of the old dramas or strife A junior diva tested this new meek And learned from the curb that sweet is not weak And not a step was missed as she rehearsed Her new elegance shined as others cursed The nocturne really tested her voice Her body tired but she had no choice Once her fire’s lit she’s in for the fight And she was just fine come opening night She trusted her nerves would not let her sway As a full house harkens each word she says When that solo light shines, she feels such bliss And knows nothing, nothing will equal this The applause thunders as the curtain falls And she waits for the first of curtain calls A bouquet of taffy and red roses Greets her as she rises from her poses She laughs at the joke, both ancient and sage And waves at the giver just left of stage Exhausted but grateful she has this chance To act, to sing and yes a little dance As the light faded, she fell to the floor The diva had had her final encore She was called difficult but the best Fact to which all who knew her did attest Eulogies told with melancholy tears At the services filled with loved ones and peers Every soul there agreed that it was Fitting the last thing she heard was applause
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Tonight Lillian tends bar at dVerse Poets Pub. It’s Open Link Night, where our words are all we’re ‘just sayin’…’ | Open Link Night : Just Sayin’ . . .
Raivenne-lations 
Wow, this is beautifully striking and especially haunting at the end. It seemed she lived a full life as it finally came to center in her final moments–the moments relived that once made her feel happy. Such a great ending to a fantastic story in this poem. Excellent piece!
Thank you, Lucy.
What a great story you’ve told in your poem. And the twist, that she takes her final bow on the stage…and this is all indeed a eulogy of sorts. I’m reminded of Judy Garland’s comeback…and all she went through. She did not die on stage though…..but certainly her fame, the studios in those days working her to the bone as a young actress and singer….the pills etc. The limelight is not always kind even though the applause can be the upper.
“this is all indeed a eulogy of sorts” that was exactly the feel I was going for. Thanks, Lillian.
What a tale! Well done.
Thank you!
What a marvelous story, so intuitively told, taking us along on her life journey. You’ve made magic with your words. Thank you!
Thank you, Beverly.
Great telling of this story. I love these lines, “Every soul there agreed that it was
Fitting the last thing she heard was applause”
Thanks, Victoria.
You told her story so well, whoever she was, or is. Maybe this is a dream for someone that has yet to make her comeback. I love the photo you chose to go with your poem.
Thanks Msjadeli, she’s just a figment of my imagination whose story Muse wanted to tell. I lucked out with the image.
I was thinking Tina Turner as I read it, but I don’t she ever had a comeback as she never faded out.
Beautifully written, Raivenne.
So wonderful to receive love until the end
for what she loved to tend.
Nice end rhymes, thanks 😀
This is really well written. The story drew me in, and the ending is dramatic, kind of sad but fitting.
Thank you, revivedwriter.
Indeed, and interesting story well-set in a poem.
Thanks!