Poem: The Speaker Man

 

The Speaker Man

The Speaker Man
puffs out his chest.
His quotes are stock,
all memorized.
His opening
line is polished—
he knows his joke
works every time.
He wants you to
know behind each
great man there is
a great woman.
His bleached teeth shine
in a smile that’s
punctuation.  
He’s onto his
big, closing quote—
dramatic pause,
a few soft words,
and he’s finished.

It is only
after he sits
himself down that
the Speaker Man
is finally
vulnerable.

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