new moon in Scorpio // partial solar eclipse

I paraded them out

and the heat of the lights burned 

—the singe of being seen

there is space here but 

the spotlight is blinding and all I can see 

is the shadow of my performance painted on the stage below

they asked not to be judged

but they’re actors 

and my comments turned to commentary 

of course, there can be space for both 

the artist in the stillness 

the critic in everything that fears the stillness, is death 

a quiet threat to its existence 

and the kindness that sneaks in through the purifying rays 

the beauty of being at the center of the storm 

so maybe we will be okay here 

if we stay in the eye 

still moving 

because here in the spotlight 

if we keep performing 

the reviews can never roll in.