‘500 words’
500 words is all you’re allowed
500 exactly will make us feel proud
500 words is all you’re allowed
One word more
and you’ll be disavowed
many more than that
and you’ll be disemvowelled;
500 words
‘Without counting the verbs?’
That sort of logic
my brain, disturbs;
You are only allowed
500, no more
Any more than that,
And we’ll show you the door
500 words
exactly, or less;
if you deign to write more,
what will happen?
Just guess.
500 words
and you will be approved,
501, 2, 3, 4…
and you’ll wish
you’d written less,
not more.
