Mirror Up

arguably
I can read out poetry
drunken or otherwise
sometimes preferably buzzed
on point
loud, too loud, just right
‘cuz I have my off nights
but more on
than off
ya know?

an old friend of mine
is just starting out with this
who I see a lot of potential in
who reminds me
much of myself
when I was starting out
so I told him:

don’t let anyone know
this is your first time
that will just create a distraction
don’t choke up
if you stumble on a word
just move along
make no apology
and as a percussionist
you should listen
for your own rhythm
and just rock it on out as you see fit
you can do it!

and he did do it!
and I almost welled up
with prideful tears
so I welled pridefully
without tears then
and we proceeded to
talk all this out
what performance is
and the stumbling blocks
that come along
with life
what relationships become to us
what we make of it all
on a Tuesday
on an open mic night
always in our own
sub-worlds

they’ve little idea
what we discuss over
at the diner
the gravity of the situation

even one dude is
non-stop with the jokes
super annoying the shit out of…
I can just tell
when motherfuckers
aren’t being real

must power up
with the ability to
see self
see action
see thought before
it becomes action
before it becomes
a regrettable action

must mirror up