A place of personal courage, testing

Out new ideas, new expressions, a new

Part of ourselves, making our private, secret inner work

Public, part of the community.

Giving what is inside ourselves some air, the stage

Intimidating, yet distinctly our own

Space, space to make a statement –

Welcomed by acceptance, community in open arms – a

Declaration of who we are, giving voice

To what has been stewing, churning, fermenting

Inside

Finding its wings, finding its audience

Being heard.

This old space, sacred, the past hundred years,

Here others stood here, sharing their souls, over the years,

Voices and music reverberating on old Grange Hall wood, generations past

Giving to the community, making community, building

Relationships, embolding ourselves, our art, our

Creations.

I grow, often against my will, on this stage, exposing my private

Self, shyness and private musings somehow

Put on hold.

–Neal Lemery, 9/9/2019