It's done, it's over ... another submission in clover

Worked at it so hard ... my mind's turned to lard

So much playing with words, in order to be heard

Pull them from here - and put them over there



Make it all jell together ... slide them into tether

Rephrase the lines - so they all get into a climb

Rearrange the order - doing it will make it broader

This time's gonna work ... I feel it ... it'll perk



So much good thought - expressed in a way caught

Up in shining images ... so many - there are scrimmages

Going on in my brain ... words with the power of trains

Shunting back and forth their freight - this time, not late



Registered and postmarked two days ahead ... no lead

In my feet over this little endeavor ... done me a favor

Now I just have to sit and wait ... four months to the date

A nice bundle it'll be ... want to be respected, and free



Of the harassment and cheekiness ... really do deserve less

My mind is a whirlpool of thought ... time has been bought

So much more to write now ... there will be new plows

Into farmlands where I'll harvest yet ... some of my very best



- tristram

5:35pm Thurs 12/18/97