My First Poetry Reading

When I I became rhyme crazy. I could not find anyone to hear them. This was my first Poetry reading.

I have been known to write poetry and drive my friends crazy with it.

One afternoon a friend called asking if I had seen the story in the paper that
 The Poets Of the Palm Beaches were holding an open poetry reading
 that evening at the Borders Book Store at the Palm Beach Mall.
 He suggested I go read my poems at the meeting.

 To find out what others were writing I decided to attend.
Arriving, I could not see anyone reading and asked at the desk.
 Oh! That was a mistake in the paper it’s not at this mall
it’s at the Boynton Beach Mall... let me call them for you.

 Two minutes later he called me over and said.
 “They want you to come down there as soon as you can make it
 there going to hold the meeting up till you get there.
 They are expecting you.” “I don’t think so.” I replied.
 
“They said you were to go down right away sir.”
 My curiosity got the best of me and off I went to Boynton.
 As I walked in I noticed 40 plus people seated in folding chairs
listing to a man at a podium with a microphone.
 
“Are you from the mall?” the man at the podium asked me.
“Yes” “Then come up here and start reading do you have your poems?
”Are you sure?” I asked. Yes please start reading.
 I read my first poem "My Path" everyone applauded

 The man nodded, I continued to read more.
 After reading about six poems I stopped
and asked "Are you sure you want me to continue?"

 “Andrew your our featured poet speaker for the evening
 do you have more?” "I’m not Andrew my name is Royce.” I replied.
 “Your not Andrew Pollack our featured poet speaker?” ”No my name is Royce Emley.”
Everyone started to laugh

Inoticed a man standing at the back of the room who had entered while I was reading.
I inquired if he was Andrew.
 He nodded .” Andrew I’m your opening act, knowing you were late
I warmed them up for you, come up here and take over.
 
“ Everyone applauded and the meeting continued.

 The next day my friend called again and I told him the story.
 He then went on to tell me the Irish Bar on Clematis Street in WPB
 was holding poetry reading and I should attend.

 This time I got there early and took a seat in a booth
 where I could watch the door.
 As I ate people started to arrive seeing me as they entered
 people started waving “Hi Royce. Liked your poems”.

 When they started they called me up and had me read. After 3 poems
 they stopped me and suggested I save some for the next meeting.
 What an introduction to poetry readings. One I’ll always treasure.