I Hope It’s Not Just Me

Just give me a second

To come up with something clever,

I’ll respond to your joke

I swear; I’m just feeling some pressure.

Just give me a minute

To remember what I practiced,

Standing in the mirror

My wit was easier expressed.

Please, just one more second

‘Cause it’s almost close to perfect,

My tongue trips and stumbles

I don’t want to lose your respect.

I squeak out some nonsense

Through the words I quickly sped,

But what I said out loud

Was so much better in my head.

Someone better makes a jest

My small quip, lost in the crowd,

All move on, still laughing,

I’m wishing I was not so proud.

I can’t hold interest long,

I fear; I see it happen oft.

Draining from their face, as

Quicker wisecracks rise aloft

I’ll have you in stitches,

Let me write some options down;

I’m better on paper

Or with friends I’m oft-around.

Just give me a second

To be jealous of your glibness,

To curse my ineptitude

And hope not too many witnessed.

I never left high school,

Not a single thing has changed;

Still a wallflower, who

For lack of graces, sounds deranged.

I wasted all those minutes

That I practiced in the mirror,

They fail me in the moment,

Make my thought process less clear.

I’ll be ready next time,

To fence with verbal sabres,

Maybe one day I’ll try

Being me and not my neighbors.