Annabelle Annabelle give it a rest

take a break

chill.

 

I knew when I got the itinerary

every T crossed, every I dotted

that it would be a disaster,

over managed

in spite of all your hopes and expectations. 

 

The venue with its local radio presence

had nowhere to park,

got there too early. 

"No not this entrance - Tony will take you round."

 

Doormen, name tags,

kids looking bored,

 a cold cafe with live music,

a blacked out stage, 

hard outdoor chairs. 

 

Annabelle Annabelle with your clipboard

effusively greeting the confused

though your head half turned distracted

give it a rest

take a break for goodness sake,

chill.

 

Then after all that

some of the audience left during my reading,

the self sacrifice,

the artifice of it all,

the pointlessness of exposure.