A Writer's Lament

For John Updike

The words began to flow
out of his fingers
and out of his toes.

He heard the call
and answered the muse,
letting the words fall

onto the pages,
a story came to form,
one for the ages.

He wrote and he
wrote with each
pound to a key,

his vision blurred
as he punched
to write the last word.

Millions would read
this year's bestseller;
his publisher agreed

and decided to print
the thousands of copies
the bookstores were sent.

The reviews came in
and none were good.
He had written
a masterpiece,
worthy of the discount,
bookstore bin.