Plastic Cylindrical Inker Upper

I’m sorry too, Pen

but the fact remains that sometimes you produce ink

and sometimes you attempt to burrow through my paper

one dry tip stroke at a time

And if I’m just writing out a quick grocery list on the back of a crumpled receipt,

that’s ok, since I could probably attempt to revive you

by sharply tapping your tip several times on the top left corner,

and running you in circles until I see a “C” of blue

But, what if I’m writing a check?

or filling out an application for employment?

What if I see a hit and run

and jumble the seven license figures before I find a real pen?

What if a mute, decides to go ahead

and die in my arms on a street corner?

Am I going to hand you to him, and watch him spend his last animate seconds

scratching zig-zags

with tears streaming out his eyes?

His requiem stifled as he is unable to write:

“I do not wish to leave my evil twin, Reginald R. Blakely, any of my estate, instead I leave everything to that girl I saw on 60 Minutes, who had no arms, yet was able to dice tomatoes and take apple pies out of the oven with her feet.”

Face it Pen

You’re a maverick,

a loose cannon,

And I hope you find a reliable form

At the other end of this recycle bin