Copyright © 2010 by John Marks, All rights reserved.

This verse may be redistributed freely and without charge provided that it remains intact including the byline, copyright notice, and all text, and provided that I am notified of each web address or other online location to which it is posted by someone else. Of course the 2010 SSC archive is authorized.

This is entered in the 2010 SSS SSC in the "Wildcards" Category: using the word from the third and fourth sets as the line-end words (in the order given)

Reminder

When first (so long ago) I agreed to be your roommate
(and so much more), I warned you there were things I'd not take lightly.
But now it seems my promise and my warning you would forget:
Not little things like making faces or slurping tea;
Not larger things like failing budgets, or sneaking off to ski;
But serious matters - disrespect and distrust - for which you now must take your medicine

And trust me: it shall not be a pleasant dose of medicine.
I would be failing in my duties as your dominant and roommate
were I to let this slide, let you skate out -- or should I say ski
free? - and let you think such behavior could be taken lightly;
your guilt absolved with a minor scolding over morning tea.
No. You shall have a punishment such as, I trust, you'll ne'er forget.

I feel you have your role transgressed, your place most thoroughly forgot,
And I must cure this aberration with a proper dose of medicine:
One much too bitter for you to sigh and wash it down with tea.
The time has come for me to wield the switch - your roommate
once more takes up the role of punisher. I'll not go lightly
upon your arse and thighs. You'll think I've used a ski

or else an oar. Yet 'tis a good sound switch, no ski
that soon will paint your rear bight red. Don't dare forget
your proper manners anytime again. Never lightly
use such words to me. Be cured by this sharp dose of medicine.
Learn how to treat - how to deal with - your roommate;
And benefit from this potion, this cup of hot switch tea.

Sometimes I think a red rear suits you to a T.
I like your cries, your yells, the way you'll screech and skee
when it's for fun. But when I must be the punishing roommate,
Dealing a firm lesson that neither will forget,
Then I almost feel 'tis I who must take bitter medicine.
Trust me dear: punishment is not something I do lightly.

It seems to me your treated our agreements lightly:
As if disrespect could be made up with a healing cup of tea;
Distrust and disobedience cured with some easy, pleasant medicine.
It is not so. This isn't merely going off to ski
When I forbade it. This is agreements and promises forgot:
A wanton slapping in the face of me, your roommate.

What you did lightly, by disobeying, running off to ski
Has tee'd me off; Now I'll remind you of that which you forget
It is my role to dish out medicine, and yours to submit to your
roommate.

This is a Sestina, see spankingartwiki.animeotk.com/wiki/Sestina, www.public.asu.edu/~aarios/formsofverse/reports2000/page9.html, and www.uni.edu/~gotera/CraftOfPoetry/sestina.html for more details.

-JM June 2010