Poetry Reading Poem by Dilip Mohapatra

POETRY READING

It was an international
Poetry-Fest that I recall
and after the mega event
some poets were to read out
their poems
in concurrent sessions
to smaller groups.

I remember how I had
practised for days
in front of the mirror
for the last few weeks
to acquire the perfect
intonations
and pronunciations
with the right pauses
and matching expressions
to present the ones which
I rated as the best.

And on the D day
as I walked into the designated room
I was delighted to see
few eager faces waiting in
anticipation
but soon was distressed to see
all of them leaving one after
another
before even I could finish
the second stanza of
my first poem
except for one lone lady sitting
in the corner.

I hesitated a bit
while wondering
if I should
continue and go on
or pack up
but her eyes implored me
not to stop and
to carry on from poem
to poem
and she appeared
to be in a trance
soaking in every drop of my poetry
and soon I got back my colour
rather when I concluded
I was on a high.

Then I walk up to her
and with heartfelt gratitude
pouring out of my eyes
I thank her profusely
for being such an ardent audience
and as I plan to leave
she clutches my hand
in a feverish grip
and with a desperate tug
commands me to sit down
and tells me
‘now that I listened to yours
you got to listen to mine
for I have my poems lined up
for reading out next.'

——————-
Dilip Mohapatra


A comic twist to Wislawa Szymborska's poem of same title