Every Time I say Good Night
Each time I think I’ve got it,
possible changes jump out to tease me.
I have great hopes for my rhetoric so I
leave it alone to return fresh-eyed.
Mistakes I fix and then
choose different language,
to more precisely deliver
my message and the feelings behind it.
It’s important when I write a thing
to have it say what I meant it to.
So, in editing minutes turn quickly into hours
forty different best words replaced.
Syntax and punctuation
are re-done to shape for you
exactly what you should see and hear
when you read it.
Now for the fifth time or fiftieth
I’m shutting things down
only to find
there’s one more change I should make.
People say perfect is a myth
perfectionism is over-rated.
That may well be and doesn’t matter
since it’s not my goal.
If I can take the time
I just want to be reasonably sure
when you read mine
you’ll see through to me.
©2009 by Shari Lynne Smothers
