The Poetaster's Plaint, from "Bobby Goosey’s Compendium of Perfectly Sensible Nonsense"

 

 

 

 

 

The Poetaster’s Plaint

or

Sad Poem About What A Shame It Is When A Poet’s Poem Peters Out

 

I was rhyming along, going strong, had it made,

With a dash of panache and fierce rodomontade,

Persiflage, badinage in a two-car garage,

What a writer, such a rhymester, poetaster to a T!

Then my poem petered out on me . . .

 

Nothing left, half-assed rhymes, just a treacly metre.

No more dash of panache, but a pinch of saltpeter;

Yes, my poem petered out . . .

Ignominiously . . .

My poem petered out . . .

On me . . .

 

 From Bobby Goosey’s Compendium of Perfectly Sensible Nonsense