Rejection

rejection (again),

I’m beginning to think it’s a rigged game;

it’s always the same,

an apologetic form letter:

“Thank you for your submission and interest in our upcoming

anthology/monthly ezine/periodical/(fill in the blank):

‘Under the Yellow Brick Road Beside the Fallen Bridge’

however due to the tremendous volume of material submitted

we are simply unable to include them all (of course this

doesn't mean they are not worthy of printing), we do hope

you will remember us in the future, and oh by the way,

‘Under the Yellow Brick Road ’ will be available for

the low purchase price of $9.99 in February;”

it would almost be beyond bearing

if it wasn't so comical,

coming from editors of obscure presses

that no one has ever heard of (or ever will);

I always imagine some pathetic little man (or woman),

sitting in a cramped, seedy apartment,

with wet underwear drying on a clothes line,

signing form letters and feeling important

because they were able to scrape up enough cash

to buy a laptop and create a web page,

and now they’re an ‘EDITOR’,

putting together chap books and monthly

broadsides with the help of Staples or Kinkos,

along with a few dozen of their closest friends,

presiding over the monthly readings

and critique sessions at the local library

or Barnes & Nobles,

passing judgment on everyone and everything

which does not fit their preconceived

ideas or molds;

yes, it is very comical and pathetic,

although ‘EDITOR’ does have a nice

kind of ring to it,

and I have been thinking about

building a webpage,

and there is a Staples right

down the street;

if you can’t beat em,

might as well join em;

I sure wish that underwear

would hurry up and dry.

.

.