A Poet's Work Is Never Done Poem by Tom J. Mariani

What's keepng me
From writing better poetry
(Beyond not finding a word
That rhymes with orange)

I don't see myself as a poet
No one has granted me a license
I have however somehow
Learned how to wheedle words

Out of my head
Onto a blank page
I'll admit I have had to
Kick them around a bit

After they have landed
Some had to be kicked out
I was sad to see them go
It was like having to fire

Your cousin who just
Wasn't carring his weight
My additional problem is
That whenever I pick up a page

Of even my revised poetry
The words are still moving
Some are embarrased
Asking to be replaced

By better more appropriate ones
Some adamately think that
They should remain
Just as they are

Some are trying to jump
From here
To there
For clarity

So what's holding me back
From better words and arrangements
What's preventing a coup
What's keeping them

From breaking through the lines
And taking over
They know how much work
It was to put them there

They know I am reluctant
To call them back
Without having stronger replacemenets
That's all that's holding me back