I sent a sonnet in an envelope,
with reading fee, to some address back East,
and with it in the mail I hosted hope
for praise, encouragement, or at the least
a helpful phrase or usable advice.
Instead, I got a terse rejection slip
on half a piece of paper folder twice.
But paper cuts, and this one made a rip.

I don’t know who’s “the editor”or what
that unknown person wants to see in ink.
I’m new to this submission business, but
a comment would be better borne, I think,
than quick response in photocopied font.
I didn’t get the dialogue I want.