POEM: A Poem Before The Reading

Published 15 April 2026 by Fievel

A Poem Before The Reading

In a few minutes I have to go be ON.
I have to make a room full of strangers
feel welcome with me and with one another.
I have to make my little jokes and
take photos of all the poets.
You do those things
no matter how you’re feeling.
Sometimes you do them precisely
because of how you’re feeling.
In the darkest of hours,
we keep one another going.