The king of Hollywood— the main event, the star—
Demands the roaring crowd’s attention. Royal pain
Awaits the swooning girls who beg to stroke his mane.
He bares his teeth, a predatory smile, and paws
His prey behind the scenes. He feasts on wild applause
And box office revenues, claims the lion’s share
Of praise, and blames his bombs on brands his costars wear.
He reigns a concrete kingdom, prowling past the mates
He ruled by stalking, spiking drinks, and skipping dates.
The paparazzi poach a picture, hunting news
To mount on magazines and garner website views.
He snarls and roars at newsroom queens, his pride destroyed,
As channels pounce on stories. Fade to black. A void
Consumes his fans and fame. The scavenger remains
Encaged. He dreams of breeding, meat, and private planes.
The girls remember beastly nights, each one a scar.
Emily Dorffer is a current undergraduate at Johns Hopkins University. When she isn’t busy reading or writing, she loves spoiling her cat and baking with her mom. Her works have previously appeared in Cicada, Breath & Shadow, and The Lyric.