Mr. Period Poem by Lonnie Hicks

I am involved in this life-long struggle
with Mr. Period:
he always seeks to have the last word

And more, he always, as well,
wants to be in on every ending
and every sentences
beginning:

I invented the Colon
to thwart his intrusions
and took up the hyphen
as my sword;

He retaliated by refusing
to end any of my sentences
and I was accused of being a Run-On...
and Un Grammarian;

The Capitals became very upset
because they then never had a chance

to be used;
poets and writers
complained
that their writings no longer
made
sense:

Even dead poets started to haunt my dreams
wielding giant periods
to me
an obvious hint;

'Compromise' they all said
we all cannot do without Mr. Period
he reigns supreme
give him, for our sake
his just due.

'But, ' I said, Mr. Period has abused his powers
and I suggested that we replace him
in the spirit of compromise with the Semi-Colon;

But Mr. P did not relent
refused to be denied his 'right'
to begin and end all things
sentence
and I
desperate
to the charge
pretended to agree
and now use Mr. Period
but now have added two
and now all my sentences end
with Mr. Period by three...