The Paddock Review

Assignment

 

I am a reporter and my beat is eternity

Every day something happens that must be covered

When nothing happens, reporters go there too

And give equal attention, it’s what we do

That’s the challenge, to cover the territory

To double-check tips with our limited staff

Is it not what you expect, what you ask?

Speakers must be accurately quoted 

No paraphrases permitted, no surmises

Nothing anonymous, no mistakes or surprises

Not when the stakes are always so high

Nothing buried, or off center, nothing dangling

With eternity it’s fact, fact, fact, just the truth

I think you already knew exactly what we do

You’ve been at it since you were born too

Since you first emerged dazzled and cried 

Like it or not we are subscribed

Full team coverage, every second, every breath

Now what might be the angle on your death?

Sure, it’s endless and deadlines are tight

Take my number, call absolutely any time

Please, we can do it, let’s get our story right.

  …..

This poem is from the book Be Wary of the Elderly by Allan Appel (Finishing Line Press), and can be found at https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/be-wary-of-the-elderly-by-allan-appel/