Hemlocked Heart

‘Come on in’ and ‘nice to meet you’
Race through the storage room’s doors

Here again, at judgement’s table
Sat across from kind smiles of kin
Who heard the call in times before
And rose to command the carpeted floor

Fighting for familiar tread to fall in line
But panels find ways to find weakness

Amplifying the doubt in my pacing mind
What was it again? Did I ‘um’ or I ‘oh”?
Faux pas break my stride, tug at my throat

Do not stumble, do not rush, do not blush
And for heaven’s sake do not tear up 
Not in front of these titans who first trek
Over and under new paths I might stroll