how was I to know
they want your stuff
so you send it out
and this one
stated
uplifting poems
heartfelt dreams
encouraging stories
wanted for spirit
based publication
so I rummaged like
a fussy old lady
through the closet of
my poems and
sent one
a true one
about two girls in
love and how on
consecutive days
at the Flour City
Café I watched them
fight break up fight
and fall
in love again and
sending it off I felt
it all
felt my eyes well up
thought I’d been
too hard on myself
this is real after all
and then their e-mail
came back
just an hour later
saying
Mr. Donnelly
do not send us
any more of your filth
ever again
This article appears in February 2008.
