"Jo, Short for Josephine"

The lights stay dimmed while
a simple stage is lit. In a four
seat row I find myself

alone;

a vacancy sign propped above
my bushy head, till a lady
walks beside offering warm

conversation

and years of scenes played
over and over again—
with a family repeating

my name;

Just as Romeo and Juliet’s
family name gets passed,
repeated, over again in plays.

We

speak of teaching as I
am aspiring and she once
was, giving me tips and praise

                for what I haven’t yet done.

When the lights turn up
we walk each other
down stairwells and hope

one day

we’ll run into each other at
another play, and I can tell her
how she inspired me on my way.