Freeze Frame

I posted on poetrydotcom
And they told me I won a prize
That made me happy
So happy I went out and ordered a pizza
And came home to wait for it to be delivered
While I switched the computer back on
To read again the email they sent me
About winning a prize
From poetrydotcom
And having my poem presented
Before an audience
Of about a thousand people
And just picturing all those people
In one room
In an expensive big hotel
Far away
Made my head swim
So much
That I conveniently forgot about the pizza
And just beamed imagining all those people
Clapping for me and cheering
When I read my poem
That won the prize
From poetrydotcom
Then I stopped reading aloud
And looked about the room
At all those faces
And all of a sudden I couldn’t go on anymore
I thought all those people were jeering at me
And looking cross-eyed
Yawning and hoping I would shut up real soon
Sticking their tongue out at my poetry
And I said to myself
Hell, how come there are so many people here
Living the same farce
As me
And getting the same prize
All first
Everyone first
And someone with a fake name gets the publishing contract
Didn’t the website state that clearly already?
And here I am shelling out five hundred dollars
Just so that I can buy myself a spot in the world
And come home to tell my folks I’m something too
Here’s a silver-plated bowl with my name on it
So what if I make less than you know who
At least someone in the world honors me
Thinks I’m worth something at least
Even if it means they’re making a few million out of a thousand of me
That’s fine
I’ve earned it
Why the hell is that door making so much noise?
Oh it’s the pizza person
Hello!
What a pleasant surprise. Thanks.
I won a prize today. Keep the change.
Good.
Yummy pizza.
Extra large veggie with feta.
Yeah!
They couldn’t have made the crumbs any smaller, could they?
Rip-offs!
At least it’s hot.
Warms my tummy.
That’s an inspiration.
Maybe I should write a poem about that.
Never mind.
Pizza isn’t worth a poet’s touch.