If You Are What They Say

The MC inquisitively released the word as if he were curious to see who would step to the stage with no moniker, just a name.

"Damone," he said? "Is here a Damone in the house?"

And with that, I thrust myself into a spotlight. I almost didn't make it. As I got up from my seat, I almost tripped and busted my grill because I couldn't see a step in front of me.

But I made it to the stage intact. And the MC handed me the mic. I looked up into the stage lights and realized that I couldn't really see the crowd that well. There was about 150 or so people there. I warned them that I hadn't dropped any knowledge on a stage in what amounted to three-plus years, and to "bare with me."

Then I went into These Words: "I want these words to dutifully pirouette while encompassed about by a chorus of doubters which has only but a seed a hope within in it."

I finished that line and the co-host fell out of her on-stage chair, flabbergast. Her moment made me lose my train of thought, and I had to start over. It got the nerves out of me because I knew somebody would feel me.

It gave me a confidence, and I got through the entire poem. At the end, I got a standing ovation. The MC, he took the mic I had, and promptly told the crowd that "no one is to touch this mic for the rest of the night."

I was just relieved to finish it without and major screw ups. I told him I had another one for him (Buildings), and he let me bring down the house at the end of the open mic set.

This time, I went to the stage with confidence. I took the mic and just ripped it (it's easier to recite something that rhymes). I got another standing ovation. The MC jokingly told me he disliked me.

DMilly, who had been trying to get me out to this open-mic event for months, and I left after that poem. She gave me a big hug for doing it, and said "I told you," because she knew that I would be able to move the crowd.

I thanked her for forcing me out. We talked outside in the cold for a few minutes, and I couldn't feel it because of how good I felt.

I mean, once I got comfortable, I felt at home on the stage. All of my worries, my fears they escaped me, and I just vibed. It's honestly one of the best feelings I've ever experienced. I felt like the dude Lupe rhymes about in "Superstar."

And I can only say thank you to DMilly for forcing me my star to shine.