Questions

The comma never stands alone,

It’s carefully aligned

with words on either side of it

that keep it well confined.

The exclamation mark stands tall,

a rigid, lofty stake.

So confident, so self-assured,

it has a point to make.

The full stop leads an easy life,

indeed, a life in clover.

What lies ahead’s of no concern,

what lies behind is over.

But spare a thought for question marks,

hunch-backed and somewhat hollow.

Are they perhaps concerned about

the answers that may follow?

Jenny Erlanger

• Submitted in response to Poetry Prompt #19