Improvisation

In private he was insecure

In company quite confident

Around boys he was eloquent

Around girls had no comment

With children an authority

With seniors as a novice

Among his own never outside

His age nor yet his office

In politics emotional

In academics cold

At work fiscal conservative

At country club was bold

At church he was a pious man

In lockers a vulgarian

At barbecues a carnivore

At rallies vegetarian

With family he was serious

At parties played the clown

Among his race a stereotype

Of ethnic forces bound

Somewhere behind these many masks

There dwelt a genuine soul

With common hopes and fears

Wherein there are no scripted roles

Unless we look beyond the parts

We play we find no constants

To think such transitory chaff

Defines the self is nonsense