MANY CHAIRS HAD BEEN PLACED

Many chairs had been placed
Along the back wall
Of an upstairs room
Without much else at all

Our tutor instructed us
To climb the stairs
Sit down and wait
Until the guest appears

I found myself beside
A male class mate
I was uneasy
And the visitors were late

They had come from America
Were ‘top of their game’
They would call one at a time
By their given name

….How can I escape this ordeal?
My fear was real
I am a private soul
Who really knows how I feel?

How can I cope
With my heart laid bare
So I made a decision
To escape from there

……I tapped my neighbour
On the arm
He immediately discerned
My acute alarm

Will you swap places
You go before me?
Then I would ask the next person
To do the same, quietly

Other than this
I could bolt out the door
On the other side of the room
And face criticism once more!

…..The important people arrived
Individual names were called
As these left their seats
I still was appalled

……..finally, oh dear!
I heard my name
Right now how could I
Hide my shame

I simply felt
The worst of the worst
Would they reveal my secrets
And expose the reason I THIRST

………I stood before them
With my head bowed low
There was a long silence
What did they know?

I felt like dropping
To my knees
When they spoke
Words like these

“Beloved Daughters
Of the most High
Dance in His Kingdom”
So why was I so shy?

Everyone in that room
Began to clap
I returned to my chair
No longer in a flap

……..This was the first time
The whole class had clapped
‘Those who dance in His Kingdom’
NOTHING WILL LACK

Yes I had longed
To simply BELONG
Be accepted, UNDERSTOOD
Loved even when so WRONG?

WRITTEN 6TH November, 2022

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