right and wrong (amended) in poetry

don’t talk loudly during the open mic night don’t talk LOUDLY during the open mic night
you can whisper if you want to you can chatter sotto voce
we understand if you’re trying to get laid
we understand if you’re trying to order a drink but do it quietly
reading in public for the very first time do it with a modicum of class
for the people who’ve put the practice in and are doing it for the three hundredth time
you can talk but for Christ’s sake talk quietly please don’t be an asshole
and everybody messes up, everybody gets caught up in the moment sometimes
I forget myself and talk too loudly sometimes in my enthusiasm
but I at least apologize and quiet down and don’t mess up again for a while
I am an asshole from time to time but I at least have the grace to be ashamed of it

you can talk at the open mic night but don’t be an asshole and talk loudly
don’t deliver your masters dissertation don’t try to solve the problems of the world
you can talk but talk as quiet as you can do get your point across
this isn’t about you it’s a little bit about you but it’s not all about you
it’s always little bit about you but it’s never all about you
this is not just a good lesson for the open mic night
this is a good lesson for the rest of your goddamned life
put it in your pocket and take it everywhere it will serve you wherever you go
it will help you be a little bit less of a flaming bleeding sucking asshole

oh, and when someone from the venue says that it’s your time up here
it’s your time up here, wrap up gracefully and leave, don’t sing a goddamned Christmas Carol
don’t get out your Lego set and build a wall to pretend you didn’t hear the person at the soundboard
if you can’t respect the venue by respecting the time you get
if you can’t respect the other performers by respecting the time you get
if you can’t respect YOURSELF by respecting the time you get
you will respect my friends, you understand, or I’ll get very angry

it’s always a little bit about you but it’s never all about you
tattoo it backwards on your forehead it’s never all about you
this is a little bit about you but it’s mostly about all of us together in community
you’re being a dick acting like it’s all about you
go to Starbucks and pay double for half the quality
one quarter the company and one eighth the entertainment value
just you and your tepid classic rock soundtracks over the loud speakers
and you’d deserve it because Christ yes
Starbucks is better than gas station burnt or Folgers instant crystals
but this place is better this place is awesome this open mic is awesome
the people here are awesome except if you are talking really loud during the open mic
or if you think that you get thirty minutes breaking all the format rules
because you think you’re more important than the community
then you don’t know right from wrong and you’re AN ASSHOLE
this is all a little bit about you
but it’s mostly about all of us together, okay?