Lamplight

on the edge of the lamplight
a little boy stays
close enough to be seen
far enough to be safe

sitting down in the lamplight
a little boy's gaze
falters from the blank stars
fishes through the swollen haze

hiding out in the moonlight
a little boy plays
all alone in a crowd
firmly set in his ways

climbing back to the lamplight
a little boy takes
a last look, a last chance
gone away too afraid

and he waits...
and he waits...
and he waits...

for another chance

floating up in the limelight
a little boy weighs
half as much as he did
when he was offstage

crashing down in the lamplight
a little boy razed
every hope that he had
every dream that he chased

slipping back to the lamplight
a little boy waits
waterfalls down his cheeks
a last wish too late

on the edge of the lamplight
a little boy stays
close enough to be seen
far enough to be safe