I attend a small creative writing group and feel comfortable reading there,its a relaxed atmosphere.
I have agreed to read in a more public setting in September and already feel my knees shake when I think about it.
I would be grateful for any words of advice?

I’d say try to minimise any potential problems involving the mic (if there’s going to be one). If you’re already feeling nervous, the last thing you want is to be fiddling around with that as well. You could ask the host in advance to make sure the mic-stand is set at the right height for you, for example. And, if you’re going to be reading your work off the page, make sure there is a stand in the first place, as you shouldn’t be expected to have to hold your poems in one hand and the mic in the other (what happens when you need to turn the page?). The other mic-related thing I’d say is that, if there is one, make sure you use it, i.e: don’t stand a couple of feet back and assume it’s going to pick you up.

Several people say you should fix your gaze on the exit sign at the back of the room and just go for it. In other words, give the impression of making eye-contact with the room without getting distracted by the looks on individual people’s faces. It’s always Sod’s Law that you catch the eye of the one person in the place who’s not looking 100% into it. Having said that, poetry audiences (unlike, arguably, comedy audiences) are generally very nice and encouraging, and want to see you succeed rather than fall flat on your face.

The other thing to bear in mind is that a little nervous energy can often fuel your performance and give it a bit of an edge, so don’t knock it. Better that than to be the complacent poet who’s done their set so many times that you get the impression you’re just keeping them up. That’s not to say you should rush through your set at 90mph, of course. Don’t forget the importance of introducing your poem: it gives your nerves time to settle before launching into the piece itself, and you may also find that, by forging that little early rapport with the audience, you’ll feel less nervous anyway.

Good luck with it. You’ve got some great poems and I’m sure you’ll go down very well.

Patricia, know your own work, your 'lines' really well. Speak them out loud in private many times, until all the words feel really comfortable in your mouth. If you find a phrase that gets tangled every time you practise, then change the words: they're not the right ones in that line. Sort out what you want to emphasize, and how you want to say it. This ease of reading will never happen 'off the cuff' unless you are very skilled in performance, a working actress. Performing ease requires self-discipline. You prepare! And you speak up.... you project.

Once you are confident with your own words and intentions, you can keep sufficient eye contact with your listeners, on a moving plane that encompasses them all, and not a fixated target. But you must know your work so well that certain phrases/lines free you from your paper to look up and out. And you will SEE responsive faces that will look back as friends, not strangers. There is absolutely no rush to return your eyes to the paper except what you inflict upon yourself -none. You are in charge. Spoken words need time to 'sink in'. You want to share. Your fellow poets want to hear. It's not a contest; it's a privilege. Breathe!

It's practice, just practice - speaking out loud, listening to yourself! Caress your own words. LOVE your own words - no shortcut! The reciprocal reward of direct spoken communication is really thrilling.

The microphone advice above is excellent. But the 'fixated vision' can induce a nervousness of its own, a non-sharing atmosphere.