for Fred Alvarez

A paper, a pen, a lamp, and a table.

How long will it take me to write my animal fable?

What am I writing? What am I saying? 

A poem – since my animal story is still not on the table

I am not asking for mercy 

Not begging extensions 

Give me an F!!!

I shout in contention. 

Is the problem in craft or is it in craftsmen?

“You have a week, now go write the story”

I’ll need one more

And then one after that

Well, what d’you expect? I’m not a printer

I am a writer and thus let me write

Will it take months, will it take years?

Nobody knows and neither do I

But one thing is certain with all this procession

I’d rather be damned than sell my soul to the trade of summarization.