NaPoWriMo Day 1: The school show

 
Day 1 of the NaPoWriMo challenge at www.napowrimo.net.
 
Prompt: We challenge you to take inspiration from this glossary of musical terms or this glossary of art terminology and write a poem that uses a new-to-you word.

 
The school show
 
We will start with adagio,
step up a little to adagietto,
before andante blends into moderato,
ambitious to lift to the next level,
but before it we will falter and revel,
a little reckless, a little tart,
a little eager to be the upstart
who begins the ride but will not finish,
who yearns to sing yet will only diminish
this song in front of our audience of teachers,
peers and parents – all our careful owners,
because they all want something from us,
so expectant, so eager to receive without fuss.
The reckless soul within us dares us to withdraw,
to leave the open stage to silence as before,
and a big, bold question mark.
Everyone will wonder how to fill the dark,
the wide open space we’ve deserted for a lark.
Maybe one of our parents will walk up for fun,
grab the mike and show us how it should be done.
 
Copyright Vickie Johnstone, April 25, 2025