A poet she said, is that what I am?

I’ve been called worse: demon, evil, damned

Holy shit! Did I just make a rhyme?

And here is another with this line!

Maybe I can do this, go with the flow

But what to write about, I don’t know

I guess I can start with what i can recall

And hope I can write without hitting a wall

It all began a few years ago

So much has happened it doesn’t seem so

My memory starts in twenty eighteen

To you it may seem like some crazy dream

I know it’s all true this story of mine

A tale of love death innocence and crime

In a world just beyond human eyes

Where tales tell truths within their lies

But before I lose track of my thought train

Confusing myself, or you, I must refrain

From mixing up when events occurred

Keep things in order, so nothing gets blurred

Time is quite odd for a creature like me

Some explaining is needed so let’s see

I am not human, never was, I suppose

This is not an existence that I chose

Temporary and finite, some cosmic joke

Wandering cracks of a world already broke

But there I go losing focus once more

Fuck, this is becoming quite the chore

Let’s maintain order, to keep it all clear

Answers will come, I promise my dear.

image [https://ew.com/thmb/Wbla0zdd_E6Kug3qwDTdDeEBaW8=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/beetlejuice2-2000-890ff1b89bdf48e5b7d82d1a4c35e984.jpg]

October fourth, two thousand eighteen

A new musical graced the scene

Of a small stage in Washington DC

Based on a film from the nineteen eighties

A Tim Burton comedy, a classic indeed

About a ghost whose name all will heed

When thrice it’s said by one who breathes

Twenty years later a musical was writ

Soon to grace Broadway, becoming quite a hit

About a young girl, with rapier wit

Meets married ghosts and a demon of the pit

As the child mourns she who gave her life

She feels unseen, father ignoring her strife

She forms in the demon a strong bond

And it, of her, seems rather fond

But even Beetlejuice cannot resist

The allure of life, if just can’t be missed

So he betrays his new friend’s trust

And his plan to live the young girl will bust

It’s the very first performance of this show

And the earliest memory of what I know

After the bows, I walked my way home

When some great fear chilled me to the bone

I didn’t know then why or how

So neither will you, at least not now

Something changed in me, as I stood in the night

Though my eyes saw it more bright

To elaborate the point how my eyes

Perceive the world, is a limelight guise

As if on a stage, awash in light beams

Detail and contrast, to me, can be extreme

There is not much that can hide from my sight

Yet that moment seemed to show a new light

One so severe that everything changed

My mind, my body had been rearranged

“What did you do?” I heard someone say

I turned to see I wasn’t alone that day

A woman of such beauty, it made me choke

Perhaps another reason my voice broke

Is the fear that gripped me freezing my brain

Just what caused it, I could not explain

The woman stared at me, filled with concern

To speak, ask her for help is what I most yearned

But i was confused, my mind was racing

I couldn’t grip a thought I was chasing

My silence angered her, or so it appeared

Her eyes darted around, then on me leered

My instincts kicked in and told me to run

I just knew this would not be fun

But I’d made the error of meeting her eyes

They’re a steely blue like dark stormy skies

Her auburn hair blew in a sudden breeze

And my body remained in a deep freeze

I heard the ocean’s crashing waves

Though we were miles from the nearest bay.

The sound of thunder was also heard

But above us the stars continued to burn

The only clouds there that I could see

Were in her fierce eyes, focused on me

“What did you do?” she asked me again

I wanted to answer but twas all in vain

That gaze held me frozen including my voice

So much to say if I had the choice

Did she know me? Who were we?

What was happening? Why was nobody helping me?

I mean it was eleven PM in Washington DC

There were tons of people walking the city

Why did everyone just pass us both by?

Someone should help, or even just try!

Nobody did, it was just us two

Only the witch and me, the frozen statue

Finally, my racing mind began to slow

But before I could think on what I know

A new problem began to be present

My feet no longer felt dry cement

Rather, they were wet! And waves I could hear

As the water rose, so did my fear

I couldn't see, my eyes locked on her own

But i could feel the water level grow

Climbing my body moving in waves

Back and forth like and ocean behaves

At the edge of my sight I could see foam

Fierce as she was, she seemed right at home

Calling her witch I didn’t exaggerate

Sad to say, in her hands, she held my fate

This was her doing, as salt stung my eyes

Firey hair blew in a wind, still quite dry

It framed her face, a halo of fire

If not so scared, her I might admire

But the water still rose, now to my chest

The force of the sea beat upon my breast

Her eyes squinted, seeming confused

She nearly screamed, “What did you do?”

Wish I could say or ask what she meant

As my mouth filled with the water she sent

My precious breath, I did try to hold

I was oddly calm, truth be told

Of all the thoughts, buzzing in my mind

One that was sound I could finally find

While I was scared, it was not of death

It was not fear that stole my breath

Rather defiance had come to me then

For this witch didn’t act like a friend

I would not fear her if that’s what she wished

Death was preferred to giving into this bitch

As salt water rose to string my eyes

I held my gaze, still immobilized

Hoping to show that i won’t be her prize

Releasing my breath, watching the bubbles rise

I could barely see through salt and….seaweed?

I learned then that breathing, I had no need

Still couldn’t move in my watery cell

But I guess I was spared a trip to hell

Floating there, for who knows how long

I was able to think just what had gone wrong

Red seemed to know me, which made one of us

Something had happened to cause all this fuss

We saw this show, but I could not recall

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

What was on stage, I must've been enthralled

Anything before I just could not find

As if the curtain also closed on my mind

Who I was, who the witch here was too

There wasn’t a thing that I could do

To my mind’s front, bring the answers I sought

Though I tried hard, it was all for naught

Instead I began to think what I knew

Here are the facts that I then reviewed

I have thoughts and so I exist

Stuck in a trap that I could not resist

My body seems human but it does not breathe

I wondered what else I don’t really need

Now the woman, my captor indeed

Even her red hair, was no longer seen

She summoned the water I floated in now

I did my best to consider how

If she had power did I have some too

Not drowning now made it likely true

Before I tried to attempt anything

Lack of air began to make my throat sting

Maybe drowning takes longer for me

And before I could think on how this could be

My bubble burst, water flowing away

Falling down, on damp ground I lay

I was so tired and cold suddenly

Barely felt the blanket draped over me

By a small girl I could just about see

Confused, I begrudgingly fell asleep

I awoke to the sound of a school bell

The shrill noise did not make me feel well

Holding my head and groaning I sat up

I was on top of a desk, and handed a cup

Grateful it was fresh water, I drank slow

So I could think again on what I know

One moment, water didn’t bother me

I didn’t drown in the witch’s small sea

Then at once I felt my lungs burning

Some kind of change left me, for air, yearning.

Unsure if that was her magic or mine

These questions would wait for another time

image [https://broadwayorg.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/shows-media/_default/school-of-rock-children-cast-16.jpg]

For right now as I sat on the desk

Taking in where I was trying my best

To think clearly with a throbbing head

Starting first with my makeshift bed

A teacher’s desk placed in front of the class

I realized one other thing pretty fast

Not alone in this room was I it seemed

Some kids sat in front of me, quite a team

They each wore a uniform dressed the same

Now I knew from where water and blanket came

Clearing my throat, I asked who they were

One young girl answered, her name was Summer

This class was grade five, all aged less than teen

In the elite private school, Horace Green

The names rang bells I could not quite place

I thought I could recognize her face

But my head hurt if I tried to focus

Possibly more of Red’s hocus pocus

Didn’t want me to see who these kids are

Fine, I’ll play, but only going so far!

Rubbing my eyes, I asked who I might be

Our sub, Summer replied, Mr. Schneebly

Hearing that name my mind began to race

Like watching a movie at a fast pace

I suddenly knew the lyrics, lines, blocks

Of the Broadway musical School of Rock

The kids were characters of this here play

But where they all came from, I couldn’t say

Did Red capture them as she did me

It would take some time until I could see

For as the next school bell began to ring

All of the kids, sat in desks, began to sing

“Here at Horace Green” I knew this song

We face the future” but it seemed wrong

Always striving, eager to succeed” there was no stage here

“Here at Horace Green” no audience near

“The old traditions shape who we are” unnerving as it was

“In word and deed” I think it was because

“Some are meant to read” they’re all being controlled

“We shoulder duties, seek perfection” by some spell’s strong hold

“Toil and never rest” held in this cage

“Thanks to Horace Green” began to feel a rage

“Our Alma Mater we'll take our place” These were fucking kids

“Amongst the best” squeezing my eyelids

“Here at Horace Green” chains all around me

“We march in lock-step” could feel them, not see

“Ever upward, destined to achieve” tried to find my power

“Here at Horace Green” but their song grew louder

“We go forth proudly” my world soon went black

“Marked for success the day we leave” deafened by the pack

“And we shall achieve” Now her I could hear

“In years here after” a high melody was clear

“Decked with honor” notes that are not easy to reach

“Worthy of these halls” as if rousing a speech

“Thanks to Horace Green” It made my head spin

“Our Alma Mater” lost in the din

“Nothing will shake these ivy walls” Wanna fucking bet?

Nothing will shake these ivy walls!” She’ll soon pay her debt!

My brain had become too full once more

The world spun and I fell to the floor

It was dark, the class and room all gone

One thought in my head: The show must go on

If, dear reader, you have not yet seen

Musical or film about Horace Green

It’s focus is actually a man

Dewey Finn, who concocts quite a plan

Needing a job, he chooses to teach

Kind as this is, it’s also a security breach

Dewey lacks a license o degree

And the kids’ talent he does see

He is a musician with dreams of fame

Using the class, assuming a new name

He lies his way into the school to win

A Battle of the Bands with the young kin

Along the way lessons are learned and taught

Bonds are created before Finn is caught

The story does end happy for sure

While the battle is lost, the band does stay pure

Finn finds a way to continue this road

Keeping the band to rock, he bestowed

And all lived happily, just don’t think too much

About how Finn would go to jail and such

This did begin as a film with Jack Black

A feel-good romp I recall thinking back

Then Andrew Lloyd Webber writer of songs

Like Phantom, Cats, a career rather long

Decided to base his next big show

On this classic film many people know

So it came to Broadway, quite a success

A talented cast, one of the best

If offered a role, I might’ve said yes

But fate had in mind a different test

The overture’s notes shocked me awake

Still sporting a rather nasty headache

Notes blared and bright lights did shine

I found autonomy was no longer mine

Against my will I began to sing

Dancing around like a puppet on a string

Performing this show against my will

Ignoring my obvious lack of skill

Clearly not trained in song or in dance

Hitting notes and marks by the slimmest chance

But the cast ignored my skills not honed

Seemingly in a trance of their own

Against this control I did try to fight

But the chains held strong despite all my might

By intermission’s start tired as I was

I was grateful for a small moment’s pause

This show is rather exhausting, you see

And it did not help that I played the lead

For most of the shot I was on stage

Making this a very unique cage

Still unsure as to why I was trapped here

One thing to me became very clear

I’d save them all if it the last thing I do

And maybe I could survive all this too

I learned something else about who I am

Low in priorities is where I stand

The children were all I could think to save

Any adults could follow the path we’d pave

Away from the show, away from that witch

By the way she had her own role, the bitch

Headmistress of the school, Red chose to play

Dewey’s love interest, at the end of the day

As if this capture wasn’t bad enough

Being forced to kiss her was gonna be rough

Yup, they kiss in the show, not once, but twice

Doing this against my will is not very nice

My body was forced to work and perform

While my mind did swirl with a growing storm

The finale was sung and I needed to sleep

After a moment I wanted to weep

For the overture had begun once again

My body still separate from my own brain

I wondered how many shows I could do

Before I collapse for all here to view

We performed School of Rock, the very same

How in the fuck can I win at her damn game!?

I won’t bore you with the parts that repeat

Just that torture became this theater feat

This tiring show, done constantly

An end to this was not guaranteed

I had begun to question my reality

That’s when Red began the inquiry

image [https://broadwaymusicalhome.com/images/alt/school.jpg]

There is one scene that’s in the second act

Finn and Red meet in a bar’s very back

In the show they speak, furthing Finn’s goal

Before the kiss scene that still pains my soul

But after doing the show many times

Out of the fog, my own voice did climb

I was able to speak but nothing else

So I took the chance to say how I felt

I wasn’t polite, there was some swearing

Angered me more, her not really caring

When I sat, out of breath, out of steam

I was dragged back into her musical dream

I never did coin how many I’d done

How many versions of this show were run

Odd, the multiple times I went through it

No food or sleep but just felt like shit

Right on the edge of just passing out

But finding more energy for one more bout

Not like I had much choice as you have read

Unseen will controlled what I did and said

Spare moments I had, spent catching my breath

In between wishing for my own death

Survived by keeping my focus on the rest

The kids, my cast also doing their best

To hide their own fear but I could see

They were forced to do this just like me

In those brief reprieves I had from my trance

Sat in a booth, able to speak rather than dance

I asked the questions that swirled in my mind

I had quite a few as we soon would find

“Who are you?” I demanded of her

“You used to know, even love me, I’m sure”

“So who am I? Who was I before?”

Honestly? I sounded like a fucking bore!

The person she loved, who was me, I guess

Was a musician and one of the best

You wouldn’t know them, never played a show

And despite how much I wanted to know

I felt the chains loose, her focus had waned

Hoped she missed it, continue to explain

But our performance, her puppet show, went on

I lost count but I performed like her pawn

And at that scene I asked what I could

Trying to see an ounce in her of good

Biding my time until my own power stirred

Figuring out why she trapped me with her

Because of her, I suppose I should say

I have to guess but she would release her sway

Every other show, about once a day

I figured that fighting it just wasn’t the way

I needed info so I went with it

Exhausted, and maybe insane a bit

I endured her magic captivity

To uncover the reason for this activity

Cuz I could not recall why I was here

What crime I committed just was not clear

In this situation, who’s in the wrong?

I needed to know, it shouldn’t take long

Or so I thought, but if a query I asked

She disapproved, I’d return to my task

Remaining in control every second

Had to be a difficult action I reckoned

So I did my best to choose my words well

Here is her story from what I could tell

Red and Finn, as my past self’s name had been

Woke a few weeks ago, she said about ten

They began together and as such they stayed

Hidden in a theater for many nights and days

They did find out their past had been frayed

As they spoke of each other’s thoughts and ways

This explained things when I considered this

Changes I felt, my memory gone to piss

Fully grown adults is how we were born

Never hungry or tired, tis not the norm

We look human but for sure we are not

New bodies, new life, what else had we got?

Abilities, powers that come from a source

But not witchcraft of the gods of Norse

Rather theater and the actors therein

We draw power from the shows they are in

Sierra Boggess, Red’s source was found to be

Alex Brightman, the source left to me

His name turned my mind as if by a key

And how things were I could suddenly see

This character I played is why I was tired

He’s a mortal man, but I was not hired

She forced me into this role day by day

To keep me weak, hear what she had to say

That would explain why I was held here

The next query that hadn’t been made clear

What about the kids, the cast by my side

The answer she gave, in me, turned the tide

They are not real, she thought I could tell

She’d never allow children to this hell

I reminded her she did it to me

She thought it’d bring back who I used to be

That person is gone, her actions assured

Could’ve talked instead of what I’d endured

Scared she was of what I’d become

The power we have cannot be undone

She thought it was best to keep me in here

Until she could test if I should be feared

I told her I was quite a fearsome being

But that’s only because of this first sting

If this is how she treats those she loves

Then now is the time to take off my gloves

Since I am the sole prisoner inside

Then I will ensure there is no place to hide

My plan to escape was almost at hand

Since there’s no need to care about the child band

You see, in between my convos with Red

I began to use a bit more of my head

While my body and voice moved on their own

Through focus and thought my power had grown

My source had had a successful career

Stored in my head, time made it all clear

A current flowed through me all around

He’s on a show now, I could hear the sound

Everything Brightman was credited in

Had some ability that I could pin

One thing for sure, I was no longer Finn

A chance of their return, you can toss in the bin

I’ll burn this place down, if I can be free

This witch will not make a trophy of me

Stating my plans like this? A bad idea

She locked the place down like North Korea

No more shows, thankful for this, I felt

I could start to recover the damage they delt

The water returned, her favorite trick

Along with some chains, both metal and thick

I had always felt them, but now they were real

Kind of nice to see what I could still feel

Too dangerous, Red felt, I had become

She feared what I’d do, if free I could run

Finn she could trust, but they were not me

I asked, “Is this right, from what you can see?

Something had happened and I was new life

Along with answers, you’ve given me strife!”

Red left me alone floating in the drink

Rather than despair, I was glad for time to think!

Mostly submerged in a small salty sea

Below my chin the water’s level happened to be

The chains wrapped tight so moving was hard

Keeping me in place, no need for a guard

There was no light, I was left in the dark

I didn’t need to see to look for a spark

Taking a breath, I thought what I knew

Reasons for Red to lie were rather few

So we had existed for less than a year

Both have power, but mine she had to fear

Began to focus on what’s in my mind

It took some time, there was a lot to find

Not of me, but my source’s career

Alex Brightman had become Broadway’s dear

Starting quite young, only eight years old

His skill and passion was one to behold

Broadway debut in two thousand and eight

Glory Days opened and closed on the very same date

Went on to perform in Wicked as Boq

Big Fish and Matilda, he cannot be stopped

Fate took a turn when he got his first lead

School of Rock, I know it, unfortunately

But none of that had caused my birth

What happened to Finn and all he was worth?

I came to a theory, I think I am right

We are drawn to our source, though we may fight

Even now he’s on stage, of that I can tell

Could just about see him from my watery cell

Finn had been drawn to Brightman’s new show

About a striped demon whom you may know

Leaving the theater fear struck Finn’s heart

Because they knew, this person was smart

A new character had been added now

It would affect Finn, they didn’t know how

Teacher, fraud, bully, man, were all in Finn’s head

This would add a demon who was dead

Scared they could not control this new power

Finn destroyed themselves, making it my hour

Whatever we are, we don’t die, we change

From Red’s point of view it had to be strange

Where once stood this person she cared for

Now some kind of stranger, understanding was poor

While I understand her anger and fear

I would have preferred a talk over beer!

But how had Red kept me captive so long

If she was so scared, surely I was strong

Stronger than her, of that perhaps

I began to think on her choice of traps

The water, of course, but we’ll get to that

My answers did lay in Red’s source’s past

Sierra Boggess and Brightman did act

Together in School of Rock, this was a fact

Trapping me here, mortal and weak

Dewey didn’t have much power to seek

This show I am sure I will find a use

She’d made it a vessel to fuel my abuse

Other character’s power she had drawn on

Caught in a theater, a Phantom’s long con

Chrsitine Diae Boggess had once played

So I bet Phantom is one of her power stays

Manipulating minds, the Opera’s as well

And the ocean’s course was clear as a bell

Sierra Boggess had played Ariel

Princess of the sea created my cell

So where did the chains come in you may ask

Figuring that out another easy task

For that came from my own source indeed

The musical Big Fish had this one scene

People of a town, Brightman included

Wanted a dam from their locale excluded

So binding themselves to the town with chains

Hoping the dam’s creation could be changed

The protest began as the water rose

Slipping the chains, the citizens chose

I focused on this and soon had found

The chains fell away and sunk to the ground

I floated at sea, escape not yet prepared

I vowed to give Red a reason to be scared

Angry I was and with good reason

I wanted revenge for her great treason

What came to mind was a demon in stripes

And a lesson to learn that Red would not like

Those chains had shown me quite a neat trick

That somehow we both could use Big Fish

If she could use mine, I could use hers

Why this was true, I wasn’t concerned

But now I can say this feat’s rather hard

I don’t use it often, quite a rare card

At the time I was anxious to try

Anything I could to say my goodbye

To Red, and Finn, I’d tear this place apart

A certain striped ghost seemed a good start

If you look Beetlejuice has no constraints

Once saying his name released his restraints

Shaping new reality as he pleased

This ability I quickly seized

Focusing upon the chains at my feet

They began to move in a way that was neat

Slithering around like snakes in the sea

I began to think what else they could be

The chains came together and grew to great size

Becoming a creature that I could ride

A two faced sandworm my brand new pet

I knew that with this, escape I’d soon get

My vengeance as well, though try as Red might

One thing for sure, I fucking look good in stripes!

image [https://i.pinimg.com/236x/f8/87/a0/f887a09679edf411454973ef9115661d.jpg]

Fire, destruction, my plan was fantastic

But it really was anticlimactic

I rode my pet through the dark to the school

Walking the halls I felt like a fool

Completely empty, no students or witch

My elaborate plan had hit a hitch

Growing more frustrated with each passing second

At least, the building can burn, I reckoned

The sandworm had shrunk, on my shoulder it sat

But at my command, it grew long and fat

I sent it away to destroy what it could

Soon heard the sound of splintered glass and wood

Able to conjure balls of sparks and fire

In a moment my surroundings turned dire

If I was human, I’d have been choking on smoke

But I had embodied the ‘ghost with the most’

His power, mind, even a bit of his style

With no fucks left, I could do this for a while

Combined with that, there was also sorrow

And a lot more that could wait till tomorrow

For that moment, I was focused on fury

As my sandworm returned to me in a hurry

Seems it cared for my life more than I

As the school fell, I said my goodbye

Climbed on it’s back, the sandworm did scurry

For I still had a witch somewhere to bury

As we moved, the smoke blocked my sight

But I could still see a change in the light

Dismounting, I shrunk my pet travel size

Unsure of what trick or trap may now rise

The smoke cleared away and I saw Times Square

My instincts did tell me I was really there!

Wanting to feel the sun, pushing back the ghost

So I could feel the sun’s summer heat roast

My rage did fade as I saw I was free

But something odd became clear to me

The people in the streets were so latent

New York fucking City was totally vacant!