ONE LINE OF PROSE

             (with acknowledgements to Dorothy Parker - One Perfect Rose)

A single line he sent me.  Without sweat.

And splendidly his messenger he chose.

By AOL, no blue-black ink still wet.

Just perfect prose.

I knew the language of the true insiders.

“My ball-pen leaks” it said, “I’ll thus dispose

This missive by my internet providers” –

Just perfect prose.

Why is it no one ever sent me yet

One perfect verse of love, do you suppose?

Ah no, it’s always just my luck to get

A line of prose.

London, 1980s