Metre-wanker
by Ann Drysdale
An accusation to which I readily put my hand up
I am a metre-wanker and
My head is full of sums.
I work alone with what’s my own
And tweak it till it comes.
It seldom happens straight away
But I can give it time.
I lubricate and titillate
With assonance and rhyme.
I pander to my passion for
Felicity of diction,
Which I believe I can achieve
By gentle, rhythmic friction.
At first I feel it firming up,
Then it will sigh and soften.
I know each stage from urge to page
Because I do it often.
With optimistic tinkering
And educated guess
I take the thing and make it sing
A self-complacent “Yesssss!”
Much of Ann Drysdale’s writing can be obtained by contacting the author via http://www.poetrypf.co.uk/anndrysdalepage.html.