Here Comes Treble: On My Knees
"After being interrupted twice during a recent flute and poetry performance by the dreaded chirping of mobile phones, which we in South Africa call cell-phones, I decided to write a poem which just may have the desired effect if I recite it before my next performance,'' says Isabel Bradley.
The Dreaded Ring.
I’m on my knees…
I’m begging – PLEASE:
Switch off your cellphone!
You’ve no idea,
How, standing here,
On stage,
The piercing sound
Breaks focus,
Stops the flow
Of music and of poetry –
We hear your phone,
Our minds seize,
Freeze!
Besides,
Those around you
Will, I guarantee,
Throw dark looks your way.
They’ll mutter and be distracted…
The glow of silent texting
Will draw attention, too,
And when you get up,
Leave the hall
to answer that silent call –
That distracts us too!
After all –
It’s OUR turn now –
For an hour, just one hour,
We are the centre of attention.
You’re here to listen
to what we have to say,
to play –
So:
Please – I’m on my knees,
I beg of you,
SWITCH OFF YOUR CELLPHONE!
*
With any luck, my future audiences will indeed switch off their phones before the performance begins.
Until next time…. ‘here comes Treble!’
© Copyright Reserved
by Isabel Bradley
