A great writer once said
“With inspiration a poem can unfold
but to become great poetry show me the proof.”
more this; less that
reorder, rephrase, recite, replace
review, restate, repeat, retrace
again and again, we chanted:
proof to the North of Grammar and grace
proof to the East for punctuation and space
proof to the South all errors erase
proof to the West format it in place
proof it and praise it to all above
proof it and praise it to all below
the seventh proof turns it and twirls
upward, outward and into the world
denied or dignified; adored or abhorred
hugged, loved or given a shrug
rated, hated, debated
even cleverly imitated; matters not
the mark’s been made, it goes on without you
you may wistfully wish to write it anew
don’t fret, wait it out
be Dickinson about it
if needing reassurance check on it
you will find it over there
in the pudding
Mary Miller Pembleton
July 29, 2010
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