Lone Entertainer

Lights, camera, action,
That is all you see
No one sees the pain that lies behind
The curtain and the screen
The hurt
The tiredness, the alcohol and drugs,
The pain the blood, the stitches

The blood stained cloths
From razorblade cuts
The pills by the bottle
To take away the pain

The smell of sweat and soap
Fills the back
The bags decorating the ground
Melting ice packs
That drip slowly to the floor

The bandages hiding
Bruises still stinging of the pain
The rubbing alcohol
And the homemade remedies

The loneness
Of pictures with friends and families
That litters the walls
Garbage cans full of tissues
From the pain of missing the only ones they love

Gym bags full of different cloths
All stained with sweat
From the late night workouts
With sweat dripping down their back's
3am showers and 1 o'clock dinners

The endless sight of black and yellow
Staring back face to face
As the trees pass by in a flash
While the signs count down the end of their journey
Well only a part

$100 a night dinners
Shared with a friend
Late nights
Early mornings
Long roads with short stops

Large meals eaten all alone
No one can enjoy the simple pleasure
Of their families company
Throw down a tip
Pay and walk out the door

Quick drive brings them to work
Another empty arena
Another workout with the co-workers
A quick chat with their "enemy"
Then 4 hours later
Your out in front of millions

Through the curtain
Through the screen
Awaiting slaps on the back
And a few kind works
Long walk back
With a fake smile upon their lips

Relaxing shower
Hot water across sore muscles
Entering a state of peace
Back home where there are meant to be

Loud laughter
Jokes a lot
It's a quick slap back to reality
Grumbling words to low to understand

Work is over
Time to leave
Tackle through the mob
Stopping to talk to a few

Back to the comforts of silence
Behind the wheel
Heading down the dark road
Followed by the darkness of early morning

Left with their thoughts
For hours on end
Trees, signs, cars, stars, clouds,
Whirling by all at once
Just the normal

Hours later
Final stop
Heavy sigh
Pop the truck
Grab the bags

Walking slowly
Unsure or their choice
Stumbling with keys
Open the door

Dark… Silent… Lonely…
Another normal sight
Check the clock
4am

Up the stairs
Down the hall
Stop number one
The children's rooms

"Sleeping soundly even with Daddy gone
My young son
My little princess
How much you have grown
How much I have missed you"

Now the finally stop
The lovely wife
So still,
So peaceful
Bend down
A kiss on the forehead

Steering slightly
Awakening slowly
Eyes opening
A smile wide

Finally home
Where he belongs
With his friends and family near
For a short while anyway

Two days later
He is faced with endless black and yellow
For another ten day journey

From arena to arena
Locker room to locker room
Then faced with endless highway
All over again and again…