Nerves

• Amy Jensen, Grade 7
• Poetry
• 2022

All the eyes are on me,
Waiting for me to begin.
I'm drowning in amongst the glares,
Hiding it within.

I take a deep breath in,
Preparing to say a word.
But the attention is all on me,
My voice needs to be heard.

My heart beating faster than a cheetah,
I swallow the lump in my throat.
I tuck my hair behind my ears,
And fix up my coat.

I pretend like no one's there,
But my head keeps saying otherwise.
And suddenly my speech is over,
And I didn't even realise.