                        The Poetry Market


[sound of radio being turned on]

 ... and there is a severe writer's block 
On the northbound Pasadena Freeway at Avenue 43.
As an alternate we recommend Figueroa Street,
Where inspiration is flowing smoothly.

Next traffic report in ten minutes on Station K-P-O-E-T,
And now it's time for the market report:

Trading was mixed on the New York Poetry Exchange,
With limericks and sonnets closing sharply higher
On rumors of some poets running out of rhyme.
Sestina contracts held steady,
While blank verse plunged to a new low.

Meanwhile in Tokyo, September haiku gained slightly
With most other verse forms closing unchanged.

And in the over-the-counter market
Greeting-card verse rallied, 
Ending its seasonal decline.

Stay tuned to K-P-O-E-T for all the latest poetry reports.
[sound of radio being turned off]



                                   Thomas G. Digby
                                   written 1735 hr 11-14-90
                                   entered 2020 hr 10-20-91
                                   revised 1535 hr 10-23-91
