weeks and weeks of hard work
came to fruition
that morning was rough
i barely ate breakfast
sat through a mean ass perm
that burned like hell
took a cab a half a mile because
i was late for dress rehearsal
had to take a cab a half mile back
to get my medicine
and get my foundation
and get my life together
but by 6 pm things had settled down
outfit one, was on and i was feeling
semi confident until i heard
hundreds of voices laughing and applauding
as the other acts went on before me
and my knees started shaking and
i prayed to God to not let me pass out
not after all this
so i went on stage three times
and found the courage to speak from my heart
especially during my solo
with my black dress pink heels
center stage, one spotlight
on me
and debangshu told me 5 minutes before
"don't rush this moment
when you get on stage
take a second and let them soak your presence in
and then take that first breath
utter that first word
and own that stage"
so despite the fact that minutes before
i needed kelly to hold me up
i walked on stage
grabbed the microphone like
i had been born to perform
and spit the truest piece i have written yet.
and i walked off stage
to thunderous applause.
hell.
maybe i was born to perform.
