| Once asked to review a serious tome, |
| a critic refused to read the text. |
| Reading it will only prejudice me, |
| I prefer to opine out of context. |
| Art-critics suffer a similar fate; |
| if books are judged without being read, |
| then must all critics anticipate |
| their reviews themselves will be reviewed? |
| Such rigorous re-audit is more in line |
| with Government audit technique; |
| Offended artitsts with an axe to grind |
| should read, then write, and omit the pique. |
| While everyone has an inborn right, |
| the natal right to criticise |
| should one do so with such obvious spite |
| because one's works were reduced to less than A4 size? |
| One shouldn't take such such violent umbrage, though, |
| at being omitted from the cover of the book. |
| Life's canvas is broad and wide enough |
| to provide future readers with second look |
| at your unpublished masterpieces. Dare one suggest |
| you aim the pen at yourself? A target is seen |
| from without rather than from within best; |
| Stature is not the same as self-esteem. |
