Slowly, in starts and fits,
Words resistant, fighting each other
Not to come out, who must go first
Into that opening line of fire.
Who should lead the second paragraph,
Demand a full stop. Now,
Before the meaning becomes serious,
The commission fulfilled.
Why not go for coffee instead,
Phone a friend, drive me to distraction?
Think of the money and, if that is pointless,
Think of professional pride.
Argue the toss, take a break,
Resort to email, browsing disgrace,
See if there are sporting disasters
Worse than this scrapyard of words.
The middle can flow without trouble,
Can nurture a current, burble along,
But then dam, damn, another blockage
Stone this time. Admit it is the end.