Comfort in the Noise

They ask me why I go

Why would one want to stand in long lines

Receiving pat downs hiding contraband hidden in their shoes

All for entry to join the crowd of people that gets more massive closer to sundown

How can it be fun?

Dealing with all the people stumbling around spilling drinks

Blowing smoke around that causing everyone to get a secondhand high

What is the point of feeling a little danger?

All there is to eat is deep-fried food that causes nasty rumblings

Making the shared porcelain thrones resting in the extra heat rank

Strangers push and shove to get to the front

Taller men block my view

Anger starts to set in, and I almost leave

But once the first guitar sting starts

Drums begin to rumble and the bass drops

The vocalist hits that very first note

The crowd explodes in screams, and I do too

Belting out every lyric, clapping to every beat

Moving every muscle in my body to the rhythm

Chords vibrate from my eardrums to the soles of my feet

The lyrics hold me like a warm hug from a friend

Adrenaline fills my body; I am on an infinitely high

Strangers dance with me amongst the bright lights

We sing along together without knowing the other one’s life story

We connect over the songs, as humans are supposed to.

Then just like that

Encore has played and finished.

The band has its curtain call, and the crowd has its comedown

Security rushed everyone to the exit

It is the calmness on the way home

My voice is shot, and the exhaustion in my body

The smile that does not leave my face

They ask me why I go.

I find stillness in the chaos of being around people enjoying themselves

There is comfort in the noise

Music festivals make me feel at home