"Slammer"

Feeling a bit nervous
The die is cast
Once I open my mouth
Hope I don't come last.
I've shared this one before
So I hope I don't stutter
Clear and concise
Instead of a mutter.
Reign in those butterflies
No need to panic
Reading out poetry's
Hardly going manic.
Marks out of ten
What will be my score
I'll settle for average
Better than poor.
Truth is I just want to read
And would never be good enough to win
But I'm not total rubbish
My poem's not ready for the bin.
Instead I read in the first
Sticking to Open Mic
No need to worry if good or bad
Which deep down I like.

Dulwich Poet 12th September 2013

(I wrote most of this on the way to the Farrago Poetry slam night, at the Poetry Cafe. A 'slam' is when the poem you read is marked by three judges picked from the audience, and the highest marks win the Slam. i wasn't sure if there was space, there was, but I jsut opted for the first half of the night, which had Open Mic slots, so didn't bother with the Slam. The last few lines were done on the way home, as I started this poem on the bus there, but didn't have time to complete it.)