Opening

I thought about truly playing the part
with wardrobe and makeup and all
then gauged my interest with a chart
and found it was laughably small
(aware it could demean my art
to mask my impoverished pall)
I took the stage (despite my fright)
with every wart in plainest sight

the audience seemed to be buying my shtick
delivered with confident ease
despite the fact that I felt sick
attempting to stifle my knees
which kept on knocking (click-click-click)
Oh let it be over, please!
Then after a dramatic pause
the sweetest sound of all - applause.