It all began with a lack of clarity.
You see, I hastily wrote without thinking it out,
No doubt I’ll be working out the implications
For days, no years to come. What have I done!

It started when I clicked copy then paste,
No time to waste, but in my haste I didn’t
Think to read it with the eyes of others.
Oh bother, there is no button labelled ‘Undo’.

You see, someone had scrawled ‘I’m leaving you,
It’s true, I’m off to Kent and so I’ll say,
Goodbye before I go. Please pray for me.’
I fear that quickly one and one made three.

Soon floods of farewell cards began to drop
A crop of well-wishers knocking at the door
With gifts and tears (perhaps some others cheered…)
I can’t deny that I was deeply touched.

And then a leaving party was announced,
And now I fear I can’t back out and soon
The room will be filled with piles of boxes as
Someone has kindly gone and booked a van!

You may be wondering who was it that wrote
That note? I must be blunt it wasn’t me,
But frustratingly no one’s yet come clean and undone
what I’ve done with my transcription blunder!

A true story ( well, but really but could have been…)
(06.09.26)

© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash