The Interview Poem by Xolani Mario Majola

The Interview

The room was bright, but it felt heavy.
I fumbled, words slipping out like sand,
awkward, clumsy, and not enough.
Their faces didn't mean to judge,
but I felt it anyway—every glance, and
every pause.

I shrank inside myself,
my thoughts louder than their words.
I replayed my mistakes
like a bad song stuck on repeat, and
wondering how I let this happen.

In that moment, I felt so small.
But maybe even small things grow—
a seed cracks before it blooms, and
maybe I just need time
to turn this into something more.

POET'S NOTES ABOUT THE POEM
This poem, The Interview, captures the anxiety and self-doubt that can come with high-stakes situations, particularly job interviews. The speaker feels overwhelmed, struggling to find the right words while sensing unspoken judgment from the interviewers. Their internal dialogue becomes louder than reality, as they fixate on mistakes and replay them endlessly. Despite the weight of self-doubt, the poem ends on a hopeful note. The imagery of a seed cracking before it blooms suggests that failure or discomfort is often part of growth. The speaker acknowledges that, with time and experience, they can transform this moment into something meaningful—perhaps a lesson, resilience, or future success.
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