The stage was set, 'have confidence,' he was told...'fear is yours alone,'
tangled like the matted tresses...windswept as on a gusty day,
walking out on that stage saying, 'I'm not afraid!'
his speech observations scribbled, woolly words...
he trembles like the quaking of the earth,
devouring information as through a straw...
to pluck just one sentence...not stilted, but full of emotion he speaks,
minutes...seconds pass like a roller coaster ride...for one so young he was nervous as hell,
high and low octaves play together like confused tones, distorting...dissonant,
the youth becomes vague...awkward, clearing his throaty rasp, he continues on,
nervous embarrassment slowly melts away,
the audience applaud like the flapping of a hundred pigeons
taking to the skies...wings beating together as one.
His tutor takes to the stage...
turns and smiles at the youth,
together taking one last bow...relieved
the applause resonates through the crowd,
a balance once more restored,
once a boy...now a man.
Comments
L G Meadows | October 5, 2011 - 15:11
Hi Jen, interesting read.. but in second verse, line 2 should that have been nervous?
skinner_jennifer | October 5, 2011 - 15:45
Hi there L G Meadows,
whoops! yes you're so right, don't know what's
wrong with me, thankyou so much for letting me
know.
Thankyou also for reading and your comment.
Jenny.
Cavalcaderl | October 5, 2011 - 17:04
new skinner_jennifer
Hello! Jenny, what a perfect
descriptive poem on young person,
muscic, and stage fright, grows up
mature into a man.
Stanza I like is:
Nervous embarrassment slowly melts away.
the audience applaud like the flapping
of hundreds of pigeons
Taking to the skies...wings beating
to-gether as one.
Reminded me of x factor your one sung
very good 1st time, 2nd time he was bit flat
in the key notes, broke down didn't get through!
Sad, and let the one through who! forgotten lyrics and words did.
But think it was Steve Worthing sussex. name, sorry paper's been put out, great kind of "Tom Jones" voice
someone entered him, as soemone not well over 21's
but went through couple times,or more then put him out,new all his words? why because one of older one's, should be based on talent alone! I know what it's like to be completely got at,before performing. And girl from Scotland should have gone through,powerful singer. Saying now 16 is too young1
Each one is different?
So your good poem, knocks the nail on the head truly
Bit like driving lesson some be great,till day before then on the day nerves appear fail, natural all actors and actresses singer's go through it, without anyone if life, belittling them.
julie xx take care, have fun.
Highhat | October 5, 2011 - 17:33
I used to be very awkward as a teenager as well- but this is a challenge like none other for a young man. Well described Jenny.
;)Pia
skinner_jennifer | October 6, 2011 - 10:19
Hi julie,
this poem actually came, from a conversation I was
having with my neighbour. She was telling me about
when her son was in school and he had to give a talk
on a place he had been during the school holidays,
in front of the whole school, it wasn't just him, but
he was one of the ones picked out, he spoke about his
trip to South Africa, but his voice was at that stage
when it was changing.
I know what you mean about singers though and I
appreciated your input. Thankyou for reading and
your comment.
Jenny.xx
skinner_jennifer | October 6, 2011 - 10:22
Hi Pia,
I think it's so hard for teenage boys and girls at
this point in their life, like you said, they're
not children anymore, but then they're not adults
either, it's where all the confusion about where
they belong comes in which is why I think they rebel.
Thankyou so much for reading and leaving a comment.
Jenny.
Silver Spun Sand | October 6, 2011 - 12:12
Yes, Jenny...more than well described. My grandson was terribly self-conscious, around the age of thirteen, and I think you put it very well in this poem;-)
Tina
skinner_jennifer | October 6, 2011 - 14:38
Hi Tina,
thankyou so much for your input on this poem, I do
feel so sorry for some children, it's bad enough
having to put up with peer pressure, without all
the other things that go with it.
Glad you enjoyed and thankyou for letting me know.
Jenny.
sue dinum | February 20, 2012 - 21:29
Hello, Jen, stumbled across this one of yours. I know I'm a bit belated on it, but I thought this was an excellent poem and I totally agree with your sentiments here. I love the way you've put your message across, good writing as always from you.
sue