what humans fear the most
is to speak in front of many
to project the voice is to express the soul
and what we really fear is judgement
that others will see through it all
and cast their doubts upon us,
that they’ll meet the ugliness within
and fail to look beyond it…
but what we often fail to see
is the privilege that’s in public speech
the chance to talk in front of people
means they really care to hear the words—
and what you should truly be afraid of
is never getting that chance again
because the only thing worse than a fragile voice
is having no one care to hear it
Garbage Notes:
This piece is about the great nemesis of public speaking. I think it’s natural to be scared to speak in front of a lot of people. And by speak, I don’t just mean standing in a physical room and projecting into a crowd. In this multi-modal digital world, that’s just one way of engaging in front of an audience. I mean any time you put yourself out there for many people to judge you, you put yourself at risk.
Being a writer, being a public figure, being a communicator, being a teacher, being a leader of any sort—you always find yourself in the line of fire. Every little thing you do is scrutinized. But that comes with the territory.
This poem is about the fears and anxieties that go into public speech. Whether you’re afraid of being judged for how you look, being criticized for what you know or the way you say things. Maybe you’re introverted or naturally a very reserved person. It can all be quite difficult.
Not everyone takes to public communication like a fish to water. It’s supposed to be a challenging thing. But, ultimately, if you want to be a part of it, if you have something to say, if you have a voice—then you will go for it no matter what.
I think the take home point of this piece is that the alternative is silence—the alternative is having no audience. The idea of no one ever being interested in anything you have to say is the bigger nightmare.
It’s a privilege to have the podium. It’s a blessing to be a voice in the darkness. So live it and enjoy it and take all the good with the bad. Even if your voice is fragile or imperfect. Even if you kind of suck sometimes. That’s okay. It’s better to show up for the people who are out there listening, no matter how few they might be, than it is to give in to the fear and turn your back on the world.
Franco Amati 2023
So spot on! You never know who can benefit by speaking and sharing your words and experiences. It is good to see other perspectives. This is how we connect with others.
This was so true of my early public speaking career but by the time I was done I didn't know how to shut up before I retired. Nicely done!