She had spent most of her life

Outside of the limelight

Left of center

Attached romantically

Or by friendship

Or blood

Or professionally

To the real stars of the drama

While she lived offstage

---

She realized that she

Would never win the award

For best supporting actress

Or even performer in a guest role

She was the assistant director

Or the sound technician

Vital to keeping the action moving

Letting the talent shine

---

She was the unread

Name in the film’s credits

That rolled past after

The audience had already left

Or had changed the channel

A name on an unread page

Of the performance program

---

She realized that she

Had chosen this life

Perhaps unconsciously

But willingly

As a young girl-child

This anonymity

Had seemed vital for her survival

She had depended on her ability

To disappear into the wall paper

Like a chameleon

---

As she aged it was easy

Comforting even

To stay out of attention’s

Unflinching center

She became

The minister’s girlfriend

The center’s administrator

Mother of two

Always called upon to

Make others shine

Support their important work

Facilitate their dreams

---

To write now

To let others read her words

To claim her voice

Seemed the most selfish

The most revolutionary act

She had ever engaged in

To bravely shout

Not just whisper

I AM HERE

I FEEL

I BURN

I MATTER

Was to enter uncharted territory

Which might require, demand

That she rethink the plotline

Rewrite the script of her life

And finally cast herself

In the leading role