THE SATGE IS SET BEFORE ME

To either act out the reality,

Or something that is easier to see,

I enter,

I face the cheering crowd,

As they await to see me move,

Expecting an extravagant performance,

The works of a great magician,

They give a maddening applause,

I step forward and stand still,

I raise my hands slowly, for dramatic effect

And then the silence,

“Ladies and gentlemen,

I was meant to entertain you tonight,

But I just died,

So I will be late, by the time you gather here

To watch me.”

Then a roar of laughter accompanies the crackling claps,

More cheering, more anticipation.

“Ladies and gentlemen,

Go home, I am late, and if you detain me

Any longer, I’ll be late for my funeral,

You know how important punctuality is to me,

That is why I am here to announce myself,

When I should be resting peacefully in my final cave.”

They seem to be enjoying my announcement,

They are gulping down every word I say,

But I’m not here to entertain,

No, they must be insane.

I step back and walk away,

Then a message on my phone confirms a payment

Of many thousands of units,

But I am dead, why do they say,

“Lovely performance!”