Brushes with Fame
by Nick Ozment

Security guard says he was a child actor
in a sitcom you never heard of.
Pilot aired once and was not picked up.
His one entry to and exit from stardom,
twenty-four minutes of fame.

Now he guards a necklace he says his wife
would love to have around her neck.
One more dream behind glass beyond reach.
He’s on duty the day a would-be jewel thief
breaks the glass.

He grabs the thief but gets elbowed.
Broken nose.
He describes it on the evening news.
Six more minutes of fame
to make up for the commercial breaks
all those years ago.



 

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