Can I…………?

I thought I could never speak

To such a large crowd

Not even a single word, I thought

Would come out of my mouth.

I had not spoken much

Not even in class

To think of all the great people

The teacher would pick me for the task

I would have refused on the spot

Had I not seen the teacher’s look

A very stubborn expression, I read

Arguing would do no good

I didn’t know what made her pick me

Wouldn’t know in a hundred years

All I knew was I was anxious

My mind weighed heavily with fear

What if I mess up?

Blabber in front of everyone?

Or worse, trip on the way up

I knew for sure: I was done

Yet I decided

Might as well give it my all

After all, push had come to the shove

Sooner or later, I’d have to take up the call

I sat that night

Chewing my pencil out

And chanting each line hundred times

Till I knew it with no doubt

Up I marched to the stage

And stood in front of the crowd

Yet, that moment, I forgot

To panic

Words just flowed out of my mouth

And now that I look back

It wasn’t all that bad

In fact, it felt pretty good

I learnt, I could speak after all