I knew no different
than to be diffident
it was all I had
all I could grasp in my mind’s hand
the earth shook
and I did too
clinging to anything that reminded me of home
because I knew wholeheartedly
no matter how tough of an act I put on
up there, on the stage

I was scared
I am scared
I will always be scared

words cling to the inside of my throat
because it is all they have before
they are gone forever
lost in a sea of vowels and consonants

- c.d.d.