Little Man, What Now ?

An afternoon nostalgia
television show
you spoke in silhouette
(but they couldn’t name you)
though the panel were very polite to you
Oh, but i remembered you
friday nights, 1969
atv – you murdered every line
too old to be a child star
too young to take leads
four seasons passed
and they axed you

nervous juvenile
(won’t smile!)
what became of you ?
did that swift eclipse
torture you ?

a star at eighteen
and then – suddenly gone
down to a few lines
in the back page
of a faded annual
oh, but i remembered you
i remembered you