SASE

A stack of mail –
An SASE.
The published today
Does not include me.

As a proud mother
I sent it to roam
An editor’s desk,
To find a home.

A lazy form letter
Remains unsigned.
“Not for our purposes” –
A sentence refined.

Happy returns?
Not for me –
If it’s the dreaded
SASE.

I sent this poem to a contest put on by The Rejected Quarterly. I didn’t hear back. It was, however, rejected by email from another publication, so that’s cool.

I say “that’s cool” because rejections can improve. I started submitting about five years ago. Mostly I received unsigned letters that looked like they were photocopied on one of those old-style crank copiers found in elementary schools about 20 years ago (how I miss those fumes…)

My husband actually commented a couple of years ago on the general improvement of the rejection letters coming my way. I was starting to get letters from editors with specific information just for my work - I know their time or words aren’t wasted.

Taylor Mali has a poem that mentions that changing your mind is a reminder that you have one. Rejections are reminders that you’re actually writing for someone other than yourself.