Trophy Life
I once met a man
who led with
his Emmy
He took it with him
EVERYWHERE
He let it
do the talking
he never said
to anyone
how he came
to possess this
shiny object
he just let us all
make up our
own stories
which of course
involved him
having
magnificent talent
Really though
best I can tell
based on
the credits
(it actually was a good movie)
he either just
wrote a check
or
more likely
was simply a human bridge
connecting his
famous friends
with
the real creative forces
for which he was
rewarded that
credit
that landed him
fourteen pounds
worth of the false truth
that he had
actually done something
when really
he had not
No he never
revealed any of that
and I probably would not
have gone looking
but you know
he used that shiny lure
to fish from me
a tremendous amount
of work
I’ll make you a star
he declared
(I did not want to be a star
I just like
working on projects)
Besides
what he meant was
just as he had before used
someone else’s hard work
to elevate himself
to glory
here he was
doing it again
I could sit here
all day
and well into
next week
and tell you how
I sat in the dust
of his sudden departure
(embarked upon
once he had
gotten what he wanted
from me)
I watched his
award winning performance
in my mind
saw with
humiliating clarity
what a chump
I had been
(Yes, again)
It had all been
an act
The praise he
heaped upon me
the gifts he gave
Narcissists really know
how to
work those breadcrumbs
For today
I present to you
but one scene
that perfectly captures
this man
a filthy rich man
I might add
(Thanks to daddy)
We had just finished
a massive project
and by “we”
I mean
ninety-percent me
He was heading over
to celebrate
I offered to
buy us lunch
he insisted
he was going to
be in charge of that
He arrived with
a massive pizza
I fucking love pizza
I said I would
get us some plates
He said he’d already eaten
I opened the box
Half a pizza
Gone
He could not wait
to celebrate
with me
That night
he sent me
an invoice
for half
a pizza
Then he
called the lawyer
canceled our legal agreement
and found
some other woman
to do his
lazy ass bidding
I hear he is
going to
make her
A Star