Learning My Lines Poem by Angela Wybrow

Over and over, my lines are said,
In order to get them in to my head.
Sometimes, I admit to getting a little bit bored,
But the importance of rehearsal can't be ignored.

Along the way, I need to make choices
About various characters and their voices.
Other decisions, which I need to face,
Involve phrasing, pitch, power and pace.

Direct speech needs to be characterised,
And have feeling: is the person sad or surprised?
Is the person speaking young or old?
Are they full of warmth, or are they cold?

Saying the words over and over again,
Can sometimes become a bit of a pain.
I practise my lines almost every day:
I consider the dividends that this will pay!

At first, my delivery is a little unsure,
But it improves as I rehearse more and more.
Eventually, there will come a stage
When I find I no longer need the page.

In my mind, the words all become glued;
The sequence of events, in my mind, is viewed.
With learning lines, I am a little obsessed,
But it means that I will always give my best.