Cast In Everlasting Stone [cor.] Poem by Margaret Alice Second

I'm awed by the things that make other people
happy, a tragi-comedy letter seeking help from
the President against his Lady-Macbeth-wife in
comprehensible English, a colleague used her
rulebooks, grammar books, proverbs & idioms
to painstakingly create a gem of a translation-
a perfect miniature delight fit for a connoisseur

To be sent to the President's men who will send
it on to the homicide unit to be deciphered by an
officer nonplussed by a Macbeth who can't flee
the wrath of his Lady plotting to poison him with-
out clear evidence; not caring what the rule is to
describe everything was taken nor whether 'and'
should be 'as well or also', I use the sound that

Rings true in my ears whereas my colleague finds
fulfilment in proving everything with a rule, getting
back the text is a lesson in the application of rules
and regulations, the reader needs to know what is
asked to broadcast a request, there's no inspiration
to create cameos for non-literary purposes yet my
colleagues ecstatically create rules for every move

They make, this enjoyment in applying rules leaves
me flabbergasted, when the end is just a file and an
official reply, there's no hope for an enduring text to
beguile some lonely hours - whereas if there is only
half a chance to wring your heartstrings when my
words sing, I'll spend hours carving such a poem
cast in everlasting stone…


Cast in Everlasting Stone [Rev]

I'm awed by the things that make other people happy;
an unusual letter by someone seeking the President's
protection against his wife, a murderous Lady Macbeth
has a colleague consulting rulebooks, grammar books,
proverbs and idioms to painstakingly create a gem of
a translation, a perfect miniature filigree confection fit
for a connoisseur - to be sent to the President's men

Who could forward it to homicide where it will be read
by an officer, nonplussed by a Macbeth who can't flee
the wrath of his Lady-Love plotting to poison him - yet
offers no proof for his claim; it's irrelevant how we say
‘she took all her things' -or relay 'and' with 'as well' or
‘also', I use the sound ringing sweet in my ears while
my colleague finds fulfilment in finding a rule for

Everything, in the end the final text is a lesson in the
use of reference books, although readers only need
to know it's a request which doesn't inspire to craft
literary cameos - to be squandered on government
officials; my colleague enthusiastically backs up her
every move with a rule & her joyful search for formal
guidance leaves me flabbergasted since the

End result is just a file & an official reply, this
is no opportunity to preserve an enduring text to beguile
our sad and lonely hours, whereas if there's only
half a chance to wring your heartstrings with words
that sing - I'll spend hours carving such a poem -
cast in everlasting stone