Matthew Parris

              Matthew Parris

Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem

Perhaps you have a favorite columnist

Who writes with wit and cleverness about

The news.  I do.  For years he hasn’t missed

The most important points.  He lays them out

    

As clearly as a Franklin or a Paine.

The column’s sense is balanced in a way

I doubt that I could manage and his main

Points always please me, saying Yea or Nay

Exactly where he should.  Just once or twice

I’ve disagreed with him, but then I think

There must be something wrong with me.  Concise

And fun he makes my shallow musings stink.

  The only times he ever almost fails

    Are when his humor doesn’t tip the scales.

Phillip Whidden