i sit here
in this dark
and cold
empty closet
sometimes
a mouse runs by
other times
i just sit
with my head
against the wall
and eyes wide open

a big red smile
is painted on my face
along with
rosy pink cheeks
my little wooden nose
is rosy too

not much to
this life really
i just sit here
and wait
till the day
when you
open the door
and let in
the light

the light
that makes
my blue
and red jacket
sparkle so
and you lift me up
with your wooden sticks
with those strings
oh those strings!
i hang lifeless
from them
for a minute

and then
i feel a pull
and you
take me out
into the big wide world
and we
go to this little stage
with all these children
sitting before it
laughing and clapping
and howling
and being scolded
for making
just a bit too much noise

and you drop me
onto this stage
and the big red curtains
are pulled back slowly
and i stand there
with the spotlight
on me
and all the children
are watching me
with such eager
anticipation

and you pull
a string
and my leg pops up
and you pull another one
and i wave hello
and then my head
turns a bit
and i take a little bow
smiling all the time
i can do nothing
but smile

and the next thing i know
i hear music
such a bouncy little tune
and i start to dance
one leg up
then down
the other leg up
then down
my arms spinning
around my head
i'm twirling
around in circles
taking small leaps
into the air

and the children
they laugh
and applaud
and smile
their sweet child smiles
not so painted on
like my own
and then
i hear it come
from somewhere
behind me
telling them hello
and telling of
my story

how i am
the magical
dancing music man
and i dance
from land to land
spreading joy
and sunshine
and lollipops
and all things sweet
and the children rise
up and start dancing too
though not as stiff
as i am
and giggles and shrieks
and music fill the air

and then they sit down again
and i take a
little bow
and the spotlight fades
and the curtain closes
and i feel myself
being pulled back up
and put into
the dark closet
blackness
i see
with my head propped
against the door
so alone and so quiet
and yet
if i listen carefully
and try hard
to feel
my heart still skips!