Butterflies flit outside the window

And inside my stomach

They’re so gentle on the petals of

The morning glory flowers

But in my gut they churn and buzz

Beating their wings against the lunch

I’m close to losing

I’d give a speech, I said

When butter flies

And the butterflies in my stomach

Remind me it’s too late now

To back out of this

One hundred person judgement day

Stick to your guns

And to your spot on the stage

Where lights spare no thought for your eyesight

The audience watches you breath

Into the microphone coarsley

Clenching your muscles

To stop them convulsing

While the butterflies in your stomach

Are seemingly screaming

And tearing the words from your throat

Each note

Each syllable

Is nothing but dust

Drifting through the room

Past the heads of the watchers

The lights ever so blinding

The seats in the back

And I wish I could join them

Spread wings like the butterflies in my stomach

And soar over the audience

And out of sight