Guest Speaker

HEAD DOODLING BACK

 

The speaker - unaccustomed
to such oratory feats -
cleared his throat, a bit too loudly,
while he fumbled through his sheets.

The crowd sensed, early on,
that they were in for a rough ride -
when he called the "ladies" "laddies"
and knocked the podium off side.

It teetered like a clanging gong upon
the discombobulated stage;
and when he tried to set it right
off flew, his last speech page. 

Soaring high atop the group -
a dizzy, darting, dazed white dove -
elusively zig-zagging,
landing on the light above.

But still the speaker moiled on -
and on - with his tall task.
He had come to speak and speak, he did.
What more could people ask?

It's true:  he rambled on somewhat
and forgot where he was going.
But, by then, he had them all on board
without his even knowing.

They agonized each coming word
and prayed that that man knew it.
The only thing that mattered now:
just let the guy get through it. 

Every jaw was clenched with dread.
Hands gripped in fists that pleaded.
Perspiration ran like rivers
as they willed the words he needed.

And, when at last, he'd "Um'ed" his last -
and the speech ground to an ending;
they applauded with great gratitude.
- And no one was pretending.

photos:  Lecture Room (Hotel Vancouver) and Applause (sketch by W.B.) - W. Bourke 

© 2012 Wendy Bourke