Paul S. Gifford

THE ENVELOPE

I decided to push the envelope,
Go for it – full steam ahead;
To push the limits of my own imagination.
To go where I have never gone before.
I was excited.
I was thrilled.
I was all worked up.

I was going to be controversial
I was going to be audacious
I was going to be notorious.

I felt:

Intrepid
Daring
Brave

Forthright
Edgy
Brash

So I tapped out a few words,
Then I tapped out a few more.
Tap. Tap. Tap I went.
Tap. Tap. Tap.

Then as I read those words aloud,
My poor heart dropped;
My dry mouth hung open aghast,
And I shook my balding head in disgust and bewilderment.

All I had done,
All I had penned
All I had accomplished –
was this awful poem.