Failure lurks like sin
Waiting in the darkness
Beyond the broiling light—
Can’t think, the heat
It’s too strong
Where have they gone
All these bodies,
Sunken shadows
Mere eyes that gaze beyond
The boundaries of my knowing
Just breathe
It will be alright
But the shadows cling
Even in this sunlit inquisition.
Alone
I stand,
Cannot stay behind
The crowd awaits
Sink or swim
They may yet know my name.
My latest contribution to the wonderful One Shot Poetry Wednesdays! Once you’ve had a look, check out some of the other One Shot Poets as well– they’re a skilled bunch of poets, looking to form a community and support one another. Enjoy!
The Waking Den 
Ooooohhh…the numbing chill that sets in before stepping on the stage!!! Well, I am not much of a stage person… brrr…. So I can totally relate to this one!
Well put and an excellent One Shot!
Well, you know, polls have shown more people are actually afraid of public speaking than they are of death. And I think it was Seinfeld that quipped that at a funeral, more people would wish to be the ones in the casket than the ones giving the eulogies.
Such silliness in ourselves! But thank you, and I’m glad you enjoyed it.
divine…..sink….to link…
name has no meaning…..meaning to be….
breath in …..love….
breath out ….happiness…..
true ends of life….
love all…
Thanks for reading!
And they say the worse it gets, the better you perform.
Nice one.
We may not like it, but many of us perform better under pressure. I guess it’s just a part of that whole “mastering your fears” bit.
Thanks for swinging by!
the stage is waiting – failure possible – will they like what i do?
you have put this together in stunning words in your poem!
So much pressure…will we perform, or will we break?
Thank you for the kind words!
i am sure you have heard the emenim song…that is what this felt like…and where the name for oneshot came from…i know that feeling well and have always said if i dont feel th butterflies i am either not talking about what i need to or hard enough…or i am way too comfortable with what i am about to say…nice write…thanks for linking up!
Well I will admit Eminem’s not exactly my style, but I thank you for the sentiments, and for the read. Always a pleasure linking up–and I’m glad you enjoyed what I had to offer this week. And you are so right, if we don’t have that feeling in the pit of our stomachs, that slightest worry…are we really putting it all out there?
You captured the emotions of stepping on stage perfectly…
Thank you! It’s much the same as being on camera–so nerve-wracking, yet so rewarding!
Beautiful imagery here, Chris: “…like sin waiting in the darkness.”
I’m glad you liked it. Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Chris. Strikes me as a self-conscious, metacognitive monologue, onset of panic perhaps… profound. Failure does seem to “lurk like sin.” Such fear can present major troubles for so many. Just remember “A man’s errors are his portals of discovery” (James Joyce). Great poetry.
Always a touch of panic in that moment beneath the lights…or that moment set before a camera. Always worrying, weighing on us like sin itself–and it can make for much trouble, but also inspire us to push for greater glories.
Thank you, it’s always a pleasure Dustus! The kind words mean a lot.
i know this feeling all too well–and you captured it perfectly!
smiles,
It’s a trouble we all have to face at one point or another I think, whether on stage beneath the lights, merely speaking before a crowd, or put before a camera, script in hand and audience waiting.
Thanks!
yeah, you did a good job of capturing that nervous adrenalin rush. me, i sweat like a dog.
Same here. I try to master the whole deep breaths thing, pace myself. If I’m not careful, I start talking a mile a minute!
Thanks for stopping by–glad you liked the piece.
very well put and you are right that public speaking is to be feared more than death…you live through the fear of public speaking..and if it goes wrong you have to live with that for along long time…very well out together and thanks for sharing with One Shot..cheers Pete
So true, so true. And it’s that thought that’s racing through the mind as you take the stage–mess up now, and everyone will know, and they’re going to keep on knowing, for who knows how long. At least until someone else does something sillier.
Thanks for reading; always great participating in one shot!
I used to run spotlight every year for a local skating/talent show. And, speaking of Spotlights
Brilliant. I loved and enjoyed every bit of it. Nice one.
Cheers.
Thanks for the comment! I’m glad you swung through–and glad you enjoyed it.
This had such a feel of the stage of life. Then again when we are on the stage it becomes so real. Loved the way you captured the feeling, that intensity as you break through the cloud of backstage and are suddenly center stage.
I am so grateful for you Chris each and every word you pen.
Glad you penned this for One Shot
Love from the moon
From twilight to sunlight. You are quite right, it is such an intense feeling–to walk from the shadows, to stand beneath the broiling light and face the world. A moment in that light could stalk you for a lifetime…oh, such pressure.
Your kind words are greatly appreciated Moon, ever welcome, and always cherished. Thank you, Moon–it’s always a pleasure writing with the rest of you talented poets of the One Shot community!
Stage fright– and it does feel like jumping off a bridge– well described!
http://mairmusic.wordpress.com/
Does it ever! Such intensity…
Thank you for reading, and for the comment. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
hi Chris,
thank you for stopping by my bloghome and commenting. i’m glad you enjoyed the simplicity and the power one can find in simplicity in my poem.
warm smiles,
Your words paint a perfect description of those moments just before… And that is the question. Before what? Dismal failure, complete with symbolic tomatoes thrown by judging eyes? Or grateful applause for the ride to somewhere else that a good performance provides?
Strong poetic capture of stage fright. I love it all but I’m especially partial to “Failure lurks like sin / Waiting in the darkness”.