even to a light patter of rain let alone the doorbell’s call,
a phone’s amplified ring. Shyness is terror’s co-star, the victim
role that gets no one’s applause. Shyness has no safety curtain,
it puts you backstage of yourself and you’re frightened even

in the wings. Shyness gives you top billing but only in solo
shows where you’re your own bumbling understudy. Shyness
comes with a peanut gallery so you can self-mock. Shyness
gives no prompts, no cues, makes you star in a dumb show,

tells you that even whispers will turn into a ruin of headlines.
For the shy being in the background feels far too flamboyant,
even a closet drama is too much of a pageant. The shy are always
trying to find the dimmer. The shy are never asked for encores.