Arlene Corwin writes

[Here's an example of a revised poem that started life in 1992 and ended life in 2015.  I do it all the time.  So did Johnny  Mercer, composer supreme. A poem is never carved in stone.  N'est ce-pas?]

[1992]

Lazy Man’s Confession  (When The Dictionary’s In The Other Room)

When the word will not come to mind,

I simply form a concept-word that’s easier to find.

A compound of two words will do –

It gets the notion ‘cross to you,

Which is all that one wants

If what one wants to say is true.

(Notice I don’t say “is new”;

There’s nothing ‘new’); the mystic sleuth

Concerns itself with finding truth

To pass from self to all-the-yous

On the most golden plate at hand.

 

[2005]

 Lazy Man’s Confession When The Dictionary’s In The Other Room

When groped-for word won’t come to mind,

I simply form a concept-word that’s easier to find.

A compound of two words will do –

It gets the notion ‘cross,

Which is the thing one wants

If what one wants to say is true.

(I don’t say ‘new’ -

There’s nothing new); the mystic sleuths

Concerns themselves with finding truths

To pass from self to all-the-yous

From the most homely muse at hand.

 

2015

 Lazy Man’s Confessions (When The Dictionary’s In The Other Room)

When word germane won’t come to mind,

I form a concept-word less rarified.

A compound of two words will do –

It gets the notion ‘cross to you,

It’s all one wants

If what one wants to say is true.

(Notice I don’t say “is new”;

There’s nothing ‘new’).

The mystic sleuth

Concerns itself with finding truths

To pass from self to all-the-yous

On the most golden plate

From the most homely muse

At hand.

 [Open It -- Yilu Hao (Kiteve)]