NEPHART.COM

it was the day

of the school poetry competition

all of us

sat on the open ground

facing the small stage

with only a roof above it

one microphone

one loudspeaker

and a teacher

holding a sheet of paper

the consolation prize goes to….

my ears stood up like a rabbit

sincere

and eager

i wasnt hoping

for the first prize

the consolation prize

felt more than enough

for someone like me

my name never came

its all right

i told myself

then came

the third position

my friend whispered

you deserve

at least second

then the second position

went to someone else

another friend laughed

if you get first

you have to throw

one of your shoes

into the air

i accepted the bet

because i knew

i wasnt going to lose it

then it was time

for the first prize

the announcer paused

checking our heartbeat

all curious eyes

were fixed on him

then he smiled

and said

you all already know

his name

i smiled too

it had to be

the boy

who always won

every competition

i picked up my bag

and started walking

towards my classroom

then behind me

the loudspeaker

came alive

and the first prize goes to

fraaaaaain chakrit

before i could even turn around

someone grabbed my leg

pulled off my shoe

and threw it

high into the air

before i found my balance

my friends

threw me up too

for a few seconds

i forgot

what gravity was

i dont think

i had ever been

that happy

after everyone

went back

to their classrooms

i was still

looking for my shoe

before i found my balance

my friends

threw me up too

for a few seconds

i forgot

what gravity was

i dont think

i had ever been

that happy

everyone slowly

walked back

to their classrooms

i walked around

looking for my shoe

with the biggest smile

i had ever worn