I sit at a table on the edge of the café, eyes fixed on the stage stretching directly before me. The café is brimming with people, faces beside me all unfamiliar. It’s a Tuesday, and tonight is Open Mic Poetry Night. The café pulses with creative energy. Everyone here shares the same passion: the passion for observing and writing.
The event kicks off with a warm welcome from the organizer, who lightens the mood with a few jokes. Then, the first volunteer is invited to the stage. Standing upright and confident, he knows the art of giving expression to his poem. He pauses in the right moments, and everyone listens intently. Applause erupts when he finishes, and the next person ventures to the microphone.
Her poem is impressive, vivid, and sensitively written. I can completely immerse myself in her words and understand the vulnerability she describes in her poem. As she returns to her seat from the stage, I toy with the idea of being the next one to share my words with these unfamiliar faces.
My heart starts to race, warmth coursing through my body. Summoning courage, I stand up and move towards the stage. The three small steps feel heavy as I step onto the stage. Now, I stand here, scrutinized by expectant and inquisitive gazes.
I retrieve my phone from my pocket, find my prepared poem, and begin to read. The excitement is hard to contain. Eventually, I forget the world around me, the stage, the people listening to me. I sink into my poem. When I finish, I glance at the crowd, wondering how they found it. Applause erupts, and adrenaline rushes through my body. I did it. Happily, I return to my seat, my heart still pounding.
The gazes of others drift away, focusing on the next speaker. Even though it may not have been a great feat, this small moment where I had to step out of my comfort zone gives me confidence. I would definitely do it again, maybe even after my journey to Japan.
On this evening, unfamiliar faces transform into familiar ones. I know their stories, and they know mine. In this shared moment of openness and creativity, we are all connected.