A room full

of poets

all enthusiastic and eager to read

all self-made writers

of every stripe and persuasion

they know their stuff

they have written a poem or two

they listen as words

slide off tongues like honey

words studied and carefully chosen

they listen because they want a turn

to try their own

like artists they have painted a picture

of what they have seen or experienced

and can't wait to tell it

to get their time apart from the crowd

waiting for their name to be called

the brief introduction

their only reward

a temporary spotlight

the glow of recognition

the smiles

the nods

the patter of polite applause.