No One to Hear

It is just me standing here on the stage
Speaking words that I feel only I hear
But letting them out anyway.
The spotlight is bright
A relentless beam upon me
But I am disheartened to see
The audience rows
One, two, three, four--
I cannot see past even that
Because it is dark
And the spotlight is only on me--
those rows, empty.
I think and wonder if anyone else
Is out there, listening
To these clearly spoken words at all
maybe from the back rows
Or shrouded in the sides
Of my peripheral vision
Or maybe even from the doorway.
But I will not leave.
For if I leave, and someone comes
That maybe I do not see
Will miss what he or she has come to hear.
I will keep speaking until the time allotted has ended.
If anyone is out there, please hear me.