Proofread?

The answer - probably not.

Is it really too much to ask

To add some punctuation?

It may not be a crime for which

There’ll be incarceration.

It's an affront to clarity,

In all manner of your writing

And fully understanding it’s

The battle I am fighting.

You may have great ideas,

You include some clever verse,

But why will you not punctuate?

It borders on perverse.

A comma now and then might let

Me know when there’s a pause;

A period may help me see

The end of that long clause.

Some simple dots and squiggles

Are what I’d like to see;

Question marks, quotations,

A correct apostrophe.

I cannot tell which sentence parts

Combine or stand alone 

Oh, damn, I have just noticed

Your misuse of homophones…

 

Author's Note

A way to vent some teacher frustration as I begin to read some short stories my students have written.

Reviews

[quinfinn]

well, i stand guilty....i rarely use caps, or commas or anything other than what i intend, sometimes i even wuck with fords.....it is just my way, but you see...it is creativity which drives that perceived laziness....to stand out, no matter how offensive to the grammar police.....is my quest. this is a wonderful poem, and a reminder that i am an outlaw...long live willie and waylon!!!!!!

[Rita L. Sev]

Ha! Yes, but poetry lives by different rules (which is to say, no rules, or whatever rules you feel like following in any particular poem...) This was a way to vent as I was grading student stories. :) Though, I really do use a lot of punctuation in my poems now that I think of it... I need to be more of a rebel!

[quinfinn]

viva la revloucion!!!

[Frieda P]

Wow two rants in one day, what were they out of frootloops at your supermarket? ha.... :-) Muchly enjoyed, & I expect your next one will be about poetic licence!

[Rita L. Sev]

This one is a few months old - just came to mind with the homophone rant... :) Thanks, Frieda. Hmmm... poetic license... ;)

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Haha This is quite clever. You know, I go back and forth with my own writing. Sometimes I'm a punctuating fool, and other times I use as little as humanly possible, though if I'm planning to write without punctuation I try to make sure that I am consistent and choose lines that do not require commas. I'm not a huge fan of periods in poetry, though, as of late I have been using them much more often.

I was just speaking with one of my Master's professors last week about this very issue, and whether punctuation as used in classical poetry should be translated to modern poetry, and his answer was as genius as it was infuriatingly obtuse..."Learn the rules, know the reasons, and then do what your pen tells you to do".

Anyway...this was well written and, as I said, quite clever.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Sarah! This was written as I was grading stories written by my seventh grade students - I tell them to learn the rules for now, then learn when to break them later! I am less of a stickler about punctuation in poetry (though I use it a lot). :)

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Well you certainly leave nothing to be said, well done.

[Rita L. Sev]

It's just the teacher in me... :) Thank you!

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Your welcome.

[Angel]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you, Mrs. Sev!!!!!!!!
I can't believe you got that one written so fast...I am amazed, and impressed, and humbled by your amazing artistry.
Don't you EVER put down that pen...and don't you ever, ever, ever, ever, EVER even think about leaving your profession.
Excellent, amazing, fantastic, magnificent, skillfully crafted write, Little Bird!!!!!
And...thank you!!!!!!!

[Angel]

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm sure I'll be more careful in the future, and make sure I PROOFREAD before I hit that final "SAVE"...

[Rita L. Sev]

Ha! Thank you Angel! I actually wrote this one a few months ago, as I was reading stories written by my students. This was when I first joined WC (had just posted my one and only short story, in fact.) I needed to vent this before I got too far into the kids' stories!
Believe me, I make a few mistakes - and when I do, be sure to pounce! ;)

[Angel]

LOL...well, that does make me feel a little better...you didn't just whiz this one off at my request...
whew!
Should I cancel that boquet I was going to send you??

[Angel]

OOOOOP!!!!
That is "bouquet"...
Um...
I...er
I...ummmmm
I...think...

[Rita L. Sev]

Of course not! :) And here's a rose for you: @~}~~

[Angel]

=D
(twenty five characters)

[Rita L. Sev]

LOL! LOL! LOL! :)

[Jack...]

Darn, now they're (or is it there) checking our (or is it hour) puncuation!!!!!!!!!

Very funny Rita. I have one I am going to send you that will drive you nutty.

[Rita L. Sev]

Ah - now I understand... yes, that one did drive me nutty - if I recall, I wanted to take my red pen to the screen! :)

[Jack...]

Eye new ewe wood.

[Chris]

Chuckling here... careful, the teacher inside is leaking out! - nicely.

[Rita L. Sev]

If it did not leak out in this way, I might be sorry!
Thanks!

[Chris]

...anytime

[Holly Mason]

in 5th grade i was ill only for a few days...but I missed so many small things in classes and didn't learn them until an amazing english teacher in High school
I missed-the a and an-I did not know until 10th grade that a apple should be an apple
I missed then and than -so many small things that frustrate
maybe a little refresher is needed I am just now getting use to punctuation again and I do not like it in all writing poems especially I want to be able to write it like it comes out and see if I can get a reader to do it as well....I am sorry you are frustrated with the students you have the hardest job in the world-you truly do not only do you have requirements to meet but each student has a completely different home life -to me you have a thousand jobs but only one title
thank you for all you do and for sharing

[Rita L. Sev]

Punctuation is something that we work on all year, and it is a struggle for many students. I actually note a lot of improvement from the beginning of the year to the end. It's just that when I am grading longer pieces, it is a challenge. Our next lessons will be poetry - more fun wordplay, fewer rules. I think they'll like that! Thanks for the review!

[Hand Held Writer]

Wow I can just picture this up on the board in front of your class Its a nice reminder to really look over your work You cant always assume theyll remember to include proper punctuation Youre on the right track with this one Very enjoyable Great job

Note: Punctuation Not Included. Some Assembly Required.
[!.'.''.'.!.]

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you. I will be sharing this one with my students!

[Amy Azra Dean]

I sense the frustration :) I enjoyed reading the words you have chosen..I think I may of learnt something too! :)

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Amy!