Read At Your Peril Poem by Margaret Alice Second

Finally I realise the value of editing, after
a lifetime spent hating this kind of thing -
believing in al-fresco printing and spur of
the moment translation; I've read a book
whose editor was suffering from amnesia,
Parkinson's, even schizophrenia, though
it's more probable the real problem is the
author is a psychopath - thus he tortures
readers with psychotic editors; whatever

The author takes fiendish delight in hurting
the reader, the editor forgets what he reads
so does not take out the infinite repetitions,
after stating his case, a new point is added
then the case is restated, just one new fact
added then he restates his case again - ad
infinitum - assuming only idiots would read
him - given his subject and my colleagues'
superior demeanour on seeing my book…

He's probably right and I'm just such a fool,
and then, in a final thrust to destroy the last
shreds of a reader's self-control, he repeats
his 10 points at the end of the book - again!
but strong as I am; a steam locomotive has
nothing on me once I'm going, I tackled his
2nd book immediately, interest in the subject
overriding a myriad irritations with repetitive
text, just to plunge to new depths of despair:

The author summarises his whole first book
of course! NOW I'M SHOUTING, forgive me,
I'll edit this as soon as anger simmers down,
hell hath no fury than avid readers assaulted
by a psychopath author who demotes us to
the status of utterly lost mental cases! - I rest
my case, when I find an editor I'll get this rant
shortened, repetitions deleted; but right now I
can only warn intrepid readers: Do Not Read

This Piece for fear of turning into me; burning
in righteous fury about this unedited piece!
Reader Beware, Read At Your Peril!