The Editor

Maddy, I heard back from the first editor.
The lame duck says he likes the idea
but it's already been done. He gave me
Marquis' name--as if we didn't know.
I really think you're going to have to
write them a letter, assuring them that
this work is non-fiction. Marquis, Marquis...
not that he didn't have a good idea.
But Queen Maddy is real. Really, I think
we'll have to find someone who can
handle the idea of transmogrification.
I heard from a friend that lives in
New York that the poetry editor for
the New Yorker is slightly nuts.
Maybe we should start there.
This time, I'll send your letter first;
tell him you're about to send him
a bunch of poems. That way, even
if he thinks you're just a writer who
went crazy, he'll be prepared. But,
you know, I was thinking about
the whole idea, of seeing you in print,
and it struck me: most folks today
do their reading online. That's
probably the best route to take;
that way we don't need anyone's
permission. I'm happy to tell you
I just got a secretary job today.
Maybe someone from work can
help me with your web site? I don't
mind if a colleague thinks I'm nuts.
I'll have to find a way to make sure
he doesn't tell the boss.

(2007)