meeting

white knuckle ride
standing before expectant faces
dry mouth from which words must gush
this sea of faces
focus on
your eyes
your mouth
as words begin to tumble from your lips
your heart races ahead
leaving you in the wake

faces nod, smile, encourage
yet discourage you
you are not saying what they
want to hear

a question brings you to a halt
relief
you're off the beaten path,
off road
straying from carefully prepared notes
off piste

winging it
it feels good