You never know what will come out
As you try to formulate a thought about
A discussion topic raised in class
And the teacher picks you out of the mass
Of students sitting around the room.
You open your mouth and suddenly “boom!”
A thought evolves even as you speak
It is taken up, is the quote of the week
And you sit there thinking that all along
As you spoke your mind shouted, “this is so wrong!”
But the professor, smiling, contemplates anew
This clever thought, a whole different view
Presented so clearly while under duress –
The entire room staring at you, what stress!
But discussion moves forward and once again
You shrink into shadows and grasp your pen
To record the opinions of those around,
As your heart recovers and stops to pound.
You know that someday you’ll be called on once more,
So quickly in your mind you begin to shore
Up brilliant ideas that others share.
That way, when teachers once again scare
You into the spotlight to hear you speak,
A timid opinion won’t come out as weak.
And only you realize how hard beats your heart
As you pose an opinion on music and art,
While everyone wonders and everyone stares,
As the teacher watches, inadvertently scares
Words out of their order into something new
So a ‘brilliant’ thought can pour out of you
To acclaim, admiration from fellow classmates
As your panic once more attempts to abate.
And you cling to the shadows wishing privately
To observe and embrace, or deny, quietly,
Not be put on the spot with perplexing persistence
As you search in your mind for some kind of assistance
From something heard, or something read,
A useful phrase stuck somewhere in your head.
And all you wish is to be left in peace,
To observe and to ponder until your thoughts cease
To increase palpitations of your pained heart,
For that is when you can produce art:
Sitting there in the classroom with thoughts in your mind
Artistry waiting, for just you to find,
To put onto paper, to grant it form.
Only once you are finished will calm the storm.
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Submission Name: Class
