the stentorian.
the seeking visitor.
the gentle leader.
and me, introspective,
feeling quite out of place.
until it was my time to read;
at which point I first
wept, unable to continue,
then, later, spoke softly but
with humor, authority and maybe -
a little bit of grace. exhausted,
I returned home, shivering the whole way.
(where was the heat in that place?
or was I really shaking from
the unexpected relief of having
unburdened just a bit of my soul?)