Rising Curtain

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry

Sometimes life gets murky, but while trudging through the murkiness,
we reminisce and a poem is written:

Anticipation wrestles
with pure excitement
behind the red velvet curtain

sweaty palms,
a heartbeat
refusing to settle

the audience breathes patience
the curtain rises

footsteps find their pace
into the hot,
exhilarating spotlight

the microphone waits
I pause,
inhale, slowly exhale

the lights and energy
fuel my passion

with mic in hand,
dreams become
the rhythm of words
rolling from my alto voice
holding the final note

applause echoes
through the auditorium –
no chemical assistance
needed for this high

those dreams
drift beyond the mezzanine
reaching for the moon,
and as time moves with them,
a new dream
will take center stage.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope all is well with you! ❤️

© Lauren Scott, BaydreamerWrites.com
Photo: High School Talent show where I took home the 1st place trophy.

Lauren Scott is a Pushcart Prize nominee who enjoys small-town living in California’s Bay Area with her husband, Matt, of thirty-seven years. Although their daughter and son live out of state, frequent visits and modern technology keep their family of four close. Lauren is the author of four poetry collections, a memoir, and a children’s picture book. She has been a guest on several podcasts and her work has appeared in seven anthologies. Her poetry and prose has also been featured by Spillwords Press and Literary Revelations where she has received several honors. Lauren is a member of the Redwood Writers chapter and Marin chapter of the California Writers Club, and she is currently working on a new poetry collection and an early chapter book for children.

62 thoughts on “Rising Curtain”

  4. Willie Torres Jr.'s avatar Willie Torres Jr.

    Beautiful poem! Lauren.. May God continue to open new doors and inspire every dream He has placed in your heart. 🙏

    Reply

  9. What a beautifully crafted poem! You captured the exhilarating mix of nerves, anticipation, and pure joy that comes with stepping into the spotlight.

    I especially loved the line, “dreams become the rhythm of words,”it perfectly conveys how passion transforms into performance.

    Reply

  10. it’s funny… at the after parties following the run or the current play, my theatre friends and I would sit, reading the script for the next audition, because it was like an addiction to have that curtain rising energy of each new production!

    Reply

  16. What a beautiful reflection of memories in poetic form, Lauren. Let the anticipation and joy take you to that natural high in all that you do. 💐💗

    Reply

  17. i love this, lauren. the picture of you is perfect for the times, and i can understand all of those feelings. luckily, you are talented. i’m sure it does not matter if you are or not, many people feel this before sharing their talent with an audience. i know that i could never do it –

    Reply

    1. Thanks for your lovely and thoughtful words, Beth. It was easier to sing on stage back then, than to speak in public now, or read one of my poems (although I’ve done it). Then again, I was singing famous songs. My poems aren’t famous, so there is the vulnerability and judgement elements that cause a heartbeat not wanting to settle. 🙂

      Reply

  18. Hi Lauren!
    I hope you are well. Public speaking is tough. I have done it, but not without walking through anxiety. Afterwards, I felt a great sense of accomplishment and a feeling of success. You have captured this experience authentically and beautifully.
    Many Blessings
    Lisa xoxo

    Reply

    1. Hi Lisa, and you said it well: “not without walking through anxiety.” And I agree about feeling a sense of accomplishment. Thanks so much for your lovely words, and I hope you’re doing well too! 💖🌻

      Reply

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