"Tonight's The Night"

It's hardly a life changing moment
Everything will be the same
Is this what Warhol meant
When he talked about 15 minutes of fame?
It's taken well over a year to get here
Lots of learning at Open Mic
Never felt like a 'poetry apprenticeship'
It's just something I like.
I can't pretend I'm a real 'proper poet'
Even though I suppose that's what I am
And if anyyone thinks that's kinda weird
Well I don't really give a damn.
Tonight's my first ever feature set
Who knows it could be my last
I suspect it's like playing in the Cup Final
It will flash by so fast.
Sat on the train to work
I've got butterflies inside
But I know tonight I'll do ok
Something to look back on with pride.
I realise it's not a huge gig
Featuring at 'Palaform 1'
But for an ordinary bloke like me it's MASSIVE
When all is said and done.
I'm not hoping for much
Some applause and a bit of laugh
Giving me and the audience pleasure
While wearing my Dulwich Hamlet scarf.

Dulwich Poet 13th December 2014

(I scribbled this down on the train to work this morning. Tonight I am going to the 'Platform 1 Poetry' evening, which is monthly, at the Poetry Cafe in Covent Garden. I have done several five minute Open Mic slots there in the past. Tonight I a 'feature poet', for the first time, having my name on the bill, and getting fifteen minutes to read!)