"I'm Supposed To Enjoy Myself..."

Farewell 'Paper Tiger'
I won't read there again
Sitting on a late bus home
I'm picking up my pen.
I got to the venue at half seven
Now I'm on the 185 bus
Gone twenty past eleven!
I declined my chance to read
As time was getting short
I could've squeezed one poem in
That's what the comperes thought.
The night had over-run
With people gassing and hogging time
Worst were the rambling comperes
Which to me was a crime.
They're supposed to make things go smoothly
Sorting out times and the list
Instead of adding extra people
Plus the ones they've missed.
Is it too much to ask
To have my four or five minutes on stage
Is that really too difficult
So fucking hard to gauge?
This much disorganisation
For some it's part of the fun
Even though I enjoy other poets
For me this night is done.
It's going to be way past midnight
Before I get to bed
And that's too much of a sacrifice
When I've not even read.
I made the right decision
As I just caught this 'early' bus
Walking out of the door at the end
Without creating a fuss.
Sometimes these thing happen
But it's occurred before
Feel like I'm being taken for a mug punter
When the organisation's so poor.
My 'not turning up' won't be noticed
I'm sure I won't be missed
The night will still be popular
They'll always fill their list.
But for me poetry's a hobby
If I listen or read
And if I no longer enjoy it
This isn't what I need.
In truth it's not about reading
If I can't I don't care
But when I'm on a list and expect to
It's about timing and being fair.
So many other alternatives
All over our great city
I won't be let down by a 'Paper Tiger'
Which is a bit of a pity.
For Jason is a decent bloke
Kind with a warm heart
But this was too much of a shambles for me
So it's time for us to part.
I wish him well in his endeavours
And all he sets out to do
A man I'll respect for all he does
But with 'Paper Tiger' I'm through.
Maybe I'm too harsh
Cutting my nose to spite my face
But if I end up not enjoying it
I know I've been in the wrong place

Dulwich Poet 18th November 2016

(I went to a regular monthly poetry night, but it was a bit chaotic. People added to the list, despite being busy, others going over  time, the comperes 'chatting' far too much. In the end it over-ran, not for the first time, and people were asked to cut short what they were going to read. They seemed surprised when I said I wouldn't bother at all...I scribbled this on the bus home.)