Davian Aw is a Rhysling Award nominee whose short fiction and poetry have appeared in over 30 publications. He lives in Singapore with his family. "merely players" is in Short Circuit #07, Short Édition's quarterly review.

if you concentrate
hard enough, sometimes
the fourth wall breaks—
fading just a moment
to darkened halls
live audience hanging
onto every word
lips red for stage
your favourite shirt
a scratchy costume

crew adjusting lenses
bright lights, microphones
looming overhead
director sipping coffee
writers angrily squabbling
over words you thought
came from your heart

ersatz onions floating in the pot
a man who only pretends
to love you; a stranger's
thoughts in your mind
distracted by
iPhone buzzing
against your/their thigh—

then back
in the privacy
of your little kitchen

nothing in your pocket
heartbroken husband
grasping for words

walls all around.

© Short Édition - All Rights Reserved

7

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