once collected then selected then ultimately rejected

that’s how it goes with me;

sometimes yes, sometimes no, sometimes what the hell.

aggressive publishers knock feverishly at the door,

they make intrusive inquiries of friends and relations

and stake-out the Chinese eatery across the street

anticipating the possibility that I'd pen a new one on the backside

of a menu. I try to be pleasant and understanding,

but yesterday a young imposter from “New Directions”

dressed as a drum majorette from the local junior college

in a phony baloney attempt to nab an exclusive, appeared

in the middle of my bathroom floor, but I saw through

the limitations of his awkward scheme and kicked his ass out.

alone again, I resumed the pleasure of my refreshing bubble bath, and although

it was Wednesday an image began to take shape in my head when a sudden

sense of foreboding came over me and I thought: “oh, no. not that again”!