An Embarrassing Moment Poem by L MILTON HANKINS

It was a Sunday morning in June, how well I recall
I stood in the pulpit with my morning sermon in print
When all of a sudden I began to extemporize
A moment never to be forgotten--never at all!

I was telling about an event that had angered me
When I accidentally let a shameful curse word slip
The congregation of worshippers fell deathly silent
I wanted to grab my sermon notes and hurriedly flee.

The silence continued for several minutes, I thought,
While I stammered and stuttered and tried to apologize
But it was too late, whatever the damage, it was done
While some composure, a recovery I quickly sought.

Then, suddenly the quick-witted organist played a riff
And I heard a raucous laughter rising up from the pews
I realized the silence had been broken just in time
For my people to knew that their young pastor was no stiff!