It Wasn't Bad -#Inktober day 26

It Wasn't Bad

Bowed heads, hushed,

As if in prayer.

The silence of anticipation.

A backdrop of shuffled seats and ice clinking in glasses.

Then words.

Introductions and explanations first.

Then words

In such a rush,

Spinning images and sounds

From 26 letters and carefully placed pauses

And round after round of applause

As we sink in to sunlight and leaves, 

Flocks of geese, 

Eros and Agape, 

Article 50 and Theresa May,

Wistful longing.

Then, suddenly, a name called, 

And pushing through the throng

To upturned faces and hopeful eyes.

That thudding heartbeat and "Oh God, why?

I have nothing to give to this strange magic of words, 

All I have left to give is my nerves."

With shaking hands and pounding blood,

Unleashing a torrent, A flood

Of fear and anger and scribblings that feel too adolescent for this crowd, 

And it feels too loud, 

And far too slow.

Then all of a sudden it's time to go.

It's done.

Finished.

And it wasn't bad.

Day 26 of my #Inktober poetry challenge. A poem about performing my poetry live for the first time, at an amazing event last night. If you like it, please share!