An Embarrassing Moment

It was a Sunday morning in June, how well I recall I stood in the pulpit with my morning sermon in print When all of a sudden I began to extemporize A moment never to be forgotten--never at all! I was telling about an event that had angered me When I accidentally let a shameful curse word slip The congregation of worshippers fell deathly silent I wanted to grab my sermon notes and hurriedly flee. The silence continued for several minutes, I thought, While I stammered and stuttered and tried to apologize But it was too late, whatever the damage, it was done While some composure, a recovery I quickly sought. Then, suddenly the quick-witted organist played a riff And I heard a raucous laughter rising up from the pews I realized the silence had been broken just in time For my people to know that their young pastor was no stiff! written May 10, 2021 for "The Audience Falls Silent" Poetry Contest sponsored by Kai Michael Neumann