The Plate

Stand up to the plate she said.
Are you ready to stand at the plate?
Being British, I thought,
Perhaps this is the firing line?

But she is asking me,
Am I ready for this.
Can I stand there with her
With everything I am capable of?

This must be American talk,
And I wonder who will be
Pitching against me
To test my skill.

So I stand there
And decline the bat.
This is about how I will face
What is thrown at me.

I remember now.
I am not facing an enemy
Just responding to an event
With everything I can be.