Rosco Poetry LLC.

 
Rosco Poetry was offering 30 percent off
their custom poem service
plus a free short poem with twist,
 I went for it.
My poem arrived in three days
In a plain brown box.
The poem had the gist  
Of what I had asked for
 but
The  geo/historical setting
Was a bit of a surprise, as I had
requested a northern Irish setting.
 
I ended up with Eastern European.  
Plus, some awkward events happened in the poem,
that I did not know why they were there,
as I had not requested them.

I went ahead and posted my poem anyways,
what could it hurt?
I got  really great comments.
My poem made it to a national website,
and got rave reviews.
I was invited to speak on some upcoming podcasts.
To share my suffering behind my piece,
how it was a cathartic release of the masses.

but the poem just was not a fit for me.
Strangely, I felt completely empowered
to appear in public, and I saw  shining beacon
to fame and maybe even some fortune, as
strangely, the poem had somehow become part of my psyche.

I pretended to ask myself some basic question about the poem,
and I watched my self spew loquacious remarks.
but It just wasnt me.
I wasn't me?

I decided to return the poem.
 
In my Rosco Poetry account,
I clicked "Return Poem"
Received a return shipping label to print out.
Next day,I received a tracking notification
that my package had been accepted by Fed-Ex
The next,  a notice that my poem  
had been delivered back to Rosco LLC.
My credit card was refunded $269.  

Strangely  I hadn't even
printed out my return label yet.
I still had my poem right here in my hands,
and worse, completely memorized.
I debated what to do.

Should I contact Rosco customer service ?
Dare I keep the poem?
I had never stolen anything in my life.
I faced down Temptation, and, lost.
 I chose to keep the poem, but,
but with one promise, that
I would  find someone to give the poem to.

Someone who had really wanted
a quality poem of their very own
wanted  for a long time, to rise to fame'
thru poetry.
 
I set out to find this person.
I  set up shop at the local starbucks,
went on line, and posted in the speak freely
section of a number of poetry sites,
"A Poem is looking for you"
"YOu need this poem in your life"
"Your life will be better with a poem of your own"

needlessly to say,
I was not inundated with takers.
I did recieve some warnings from
some web administrators that they had
taken down my postings and deleted my
freshly made account.

I signed up for a poetry reading night.
I read the Rosco poem.
I got a standing ovation.
then I said,
If you want a poem of your very own,
please see me after the perfomance.

When I said this, the clapping stopped,
people began to murmer.
Soon a small group of  well dressed men,
encircled me, and escorted me to a room.

I waited there several minutes, alone,
until a small man came in.
"Hi, I am Rosco.  
I understand that you are trying to give your poem away.
If you had read my terrms and
conditions before you pressed
"Accept", when you paid for my services,
you would have realized that
 the poem cannot be returned,

Your Rosco poem has
become a part of you.

yes, we refunded your money,
By contacting us, to report the error,
was the last option you had to return the poem.
You see, the process of removing your poem from you,
is a lengthy process, so as a corporation, it is much easier
to refund your money, and let you keep your poem, by default.
but you CANNOT now
give away your poem,
No more than you can give away your
Liver, and expect to remain whole."

I began to speak, "But sir,
sir, I did'nt realize..."

Rosco stood up, and said "Good Day"
turning off the lights as he left.
After a few minutes in the dark,
I got up and exited the room.
The poetry reading session
apparently had vanished.
The noisy gala, with Hors devours,
and the Glitzy dressed attendees,
had drifted to other parts of the room.
I though I could faintly hear them,
and tried to follow the sound,
but it became fainter until I just
gave up and left the building.

I caught my bus home.
and fell in to a trance like slumber.

In my dream I saw a young woman,
who had breasts well exposed,
but I wasn't sure if it was just a
full body outfit, that made her look nude.

but I rivited on her face,
I will not forget that face.
And I knew that she was the person
to look for , to solve this mystery.



-end of Ch 1-