Thursday, July 5, 2018

A YOUNG ACTOR


The actor who played me when I was 14
Died the other day; he rated a few lines
And an old photograph in the newspaper
Which showed none of the quiet humor
I remembered. Apparently he was gay;
I hadn’t suspected.

                                    For a season he woke
From my dreams, went to school,
Pretended to struggle with French
Though he was fluent and well understood
The cranks and mysteries of the passe compose.
He kept scrupulous notes for his successor
(Not me; I came along almost 40 years on
And seem likely to continue until the series
Is cancelled or my character written out.)

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