Silence engulfed the room

Waiting for the poetry to resume...

At a dimly lit coffee house with limited space,
Making my poetry reading debut in that place.

Some read other’s work, some an original poem,
Regretted that I left all but one of my own at home.

An old memory of the spotlight was upon my soul,
Remembering in my youth how it made me whole.

Dressed in moccasins, and bell bottom jeans,
Long hair with flowers, dripping with beads.

Took the staircase down to the coffee house below,
In an old, vacant church, hippies gathered long ago...

Now everything is different, not much is the same,
Startling back to the present, hearing my name.

Several people were sitting around,
Waited until there was nary a sound.

No one there knew the fear I was hiding,
But I swallowed hard, anxiety subsiding.

I was staring adoringly at Jimmy gazing,
While I recited, "I Think You're Amazing".

Words poured out of me with force and drive,
For the first time in ages, I felt totally alive.

My heart was pounding within my chest,
Reacting to the crowd, I delivered my best.

I was smiling and thriving on the adulation,
Totally entranced by the standing ovation.

copyright © 2006 kgcummings