Crouching and twisting, Ron, as Phantom, hides his face
with his black-caped arm and stalks onto the stage.
An ominous theme fills the hall.
Behind the blinding torment in his eyes, Ron fumbles for the microphone.
He makes the grasp intense. Intentional,
He sings the Phantom’s yearning for a love he may never know.
Ron fills the room with every emotion.
He pours a lifetime of heartache into that haunting melody,
Mourning his broken marriage and the cyst robbing his vision.
He sings love of his daughter, laughter, time with good friends...
Within that plaintive plea,
beyond the agony and anguish,
beyond the love and longing...
hope sustains him.
Hope for more love in the world,
Hope for vision restored.
Hope for brighter tomorrows.
The organ music swells.
Throwing back his cape, he opens wide his arms.
His voice rises to a powerful crescendo.
The final note echoes through the hall.
Thunderous applause and cheers fill Ron’s ears and touch his heart.
He has done what he set out to do.
Arms wide, heart open, he waits.
When the joyful cheering subsides,
He thanks the crowd and says.
“When you love someone, tell them so.”
This poem is in honor of my dad, the incredibly talented Ron Del Boccio (stage name Ronnie Del) who always brought the crowd to their feet when he sang "Music of the Night." He delights his audience and always has a message of love. This poem won the Crawford Poetry Prize.
