Us, Introverted Poem by Jan Oskar Hansen

Us introverted

I had a snack bar I saw myself as the "Main Host"
talking to people being verbose and popular
something I was not patently cut out to be.
On the opening day, I hoped no one would come
and if someone let it be one at a time, no such
luck, many came buying soft drinks and burgers
I smiled and smiled, spoke gibberish and hoped
the customers would leave; haven't they a home
to go to? Bothering me with natter.
When the café was full, I left the counter hiding
in a corner, wishing I had a Valium.
I looked up in the phone book to see if there
was a club for the insanely shy people could go
there had been such a club, but naturally, no one came
they were lurking outside, thinking
of going in but feared there might be many people
I knew of a man who had a used furniture shop
when customers came, he hid in a wardrobe until
They, thinking the shop was empty; needless to say
he couldn't pay the rent.
After days of suffering at the hands of my phobia
I got a woman to front the counter while I cooked
and cleaned the dishes.
No, I'm not the "Main Host, " we can't all become what
we dream of becoming.