Did you ever meet
a simple phrase
whose stated (modest) goal
was apparently to become a part
instead of being a whole?

Tonight such a phrase
has spoken up
has raised its head
and then-
It said it wanted to be seen in Author's Den.

"No, no!" I said
"It's late. I'm tired."
"But I *want*," said the phrase,
"to be admired."
"Then want," (I said) "must surely be your master."
Disaster!

But can I be cruel
to one little phrase?
Or should I let it have its day
and appear in a verse
(it could do worse)
as a kind of consolation?

"That's wrong!" yelled the phrase
and it stamped its foot
(A metrical foot, I assume, it supposed, it had.)
"But you," I retorted, "should be glad!"
"No," said the phrase, and it held my gaze- "because you got me wrong."
I sighed. I sighed because I knew.
I knew that all along.

And so I agreed
(for the sake of peace
and a little repose in the night)
I would write it a verse
(I could do worse)
As a kind of recompense...
Using a kind of competence
Introducing a kind of competence -

A kind of competence.