Huh.
Based on my initial assessment of the room
I fully expected
to have to do some combat poetry
to keep the rubes in line.
I anticipated some triage surgery
to cut the wheat from the chaff
and get the inattentive
out of my audience immediately.

I figured
I would have to do some shouty words
out in the crowd
addressing the rudest folks
ushering them away from the performance space
thus ensuring myself
a better chance to shine.

I calculated
that a good thirty percent of the room
would have to get out
in the first two minutes
for me to be able
to read well
for those that were left.

It didn’t work out that way
as you saw.
I lost a little bit more
that thirty percent
but I was pretty astonished
how I didn’t have to curse
or scream
or fight to alienate them.
Apparently
I am totally capable
of clearing out a room
without trying
in a good forty seconds.
It seems that I am that good.