"Dear Austin Heath:

Thank you for sending “Poems by Austin Heath.” Your work received careful consideration here.

We’ve decided this manuscript isn’t right for us, but we wish you luck placing it elsewhere.

Kind regards,

The Editors”


Dear editors;

I’ve carefully considered your disposal of my material

and found it troubles me not. Whether you accept these

confessions or not, they’re still hand written on the liver

of every drinker from Cleveland to Ithaca and back.

Thanks for nothing,

Austin Heath.