TSC Poetry

Confidence

Confidence is a wonderful virtue
The ability to get up and go "do"
Even when the odds are against you
Confidence only lies among few

To memorize lines off a page and to get on a stage
And recite what they say for a crowd in a play
When I'm executing a phrase in a hearty rave
An audience member calls words of hate in a disgusted rage

He tells me that my acting "sucks"
As if the bravery of even showing up wasn't enough
Or presenting myself to the world with all my blood and guts
He told me to get my act together and step it up

"Shucks," I reply, breaking character for the better
"How 'bout you do my job for me and be the bar setter"
The man gladly approached me in front of the entire theatre
He thought he proved his point, but that's the only point he considered
I'm facing a man with confidence, but I'm no quitter

With a triumphant grin, I hand him a script, but this man won't be defeated
He grabbed the booklet and decided to punish me for being conceited
He started to read, he started to gleam, but acted atrociously
Obviously, the man wasn't taking the role seriously

Despite this fact, the crowd reacted with applause
The man gave a facetious bow to the newly found ambience
But he will not remain victorious, not with this arrogance
Fore the only weapon in his arsenal was confidence

I clap as well, grin still proceeding
As the howl of the crowd dies down, I start speaking
"It's one thing to be confident, but it's another to have soul
It's one thing to be comfortable with an audience, but it's another to be a role
It's one thing to perform to benefit yourself, but it's another to entertain for the sake of other's glee
To leave your pride behind, and portray who you are inside for all to see
Anyone can speak upon this stand physically, but no coward has the power to spend hours on one scene
So sit down, shut up, or attempt to be me
Because I've spent months on this production, and you've made yourself look like a fool in a minute 3
Tonight's my time to shine and I refuse to let you snatch that spotlight
You stand there stunned you inconsiderate thug because you fright this introvert who actually has fight and might inside
Goodnight! That's all I have for you. I'm done, I'm finished!
Enjoy the rest of this performance, return to your seat, and rid yourself of that confound grimace"