Public Speaking: A Phantasm by Savannah Jackson
- Mar 16, 2023
- 1 min read
A forest of eyes looking on
Ears perked, poised to hear every blunder
Every pause
Every “like”
Every “umm”
Digested and documented
And nothing to do but stand helplessly by
Heart sounding like an alarm
Loud as a lion’s roar
Leave
Get out
Stop
Screeching into your brain like a banshee
And nothing to do but stand helplessly by
Talking through the fire
Speaking smoothly until...
A slip
A stutter
A stammer
Ears like a wolf’s, perk up and hear
And nothing to do but stand helplessly by
Embarrassment and shame sink in
Like stains into a carpet
Chuckles
Chortles
Cackles
Remembered forever like an elephant
And nothing to do but stand helplessly by