A Public Reading

Lifting up to

Turn a spark—

Didn’t think through it,

At least not that far.

Standing up

With knocking knees—

Kinda nervous…

“It’s a breeze!” Yeah,

That’s what they say

But they’re not me.

Please god help me,

I desperately pray.

Hmmm…

Now what do I do?

They’re looking at me.

“We’re waiting for you,”

They say, impatiently.

But I’m not prepared

To put my best foot forward,

So I stall a bit.

“I’d like to start,”

And I clear my throat—

“With one I wrote

A long time ago.”

And they are listening,

So here I go!