Rejection Letter Poem by Michael Pruchnicki

Dear Mr. Malone:

We are returning your poem with some suggestions for improvement.
Please feel free to submit 'The Dream' for possible inclusion
in a future issue of POETRY FOR TODAY.

You end your poem with the lines, 'I wake, /Alas, it's just a dream.'
The dream you describe in the poem
is very straightforward and prosaic!

A poetic metaphor must make literal
as well as poetic sense to be effective.
For instance, the personification of
Death is represented as an angel
embracing the speaker of the poem,
the 'I' character, 'its fluttering wings
feathering my cheeks with love.'
Husband, father and brother follow
in short order! You represent Death
as a bisexual amorous lover! Some,
such as our editor of metaphysical
poetry, applaud this imagery!

We as editors of a prestigious journal
take our poetry seriously, and therefore
do not condone such ribald imagery.
In these circumstances, we must reject
'The Dream' for inclusion in our gala
Spring 2008 issue.

However, we append a subscription
form (note the discount for aspiring
poets) for POETRY FOR TODAY.

Sincerely,

(signature)

Rufus T. Yrotaval
Editor-in-Chief

ss/02/09/2008