To a Blank Space in a Magazine

What’s this! A half-page without anything on it!
Not even a quatrain, yet room for a sonnet!

How came it that such a space failed to get collared
By “ Madison Clinton ” or “ Frank Dempster Scollard ? ”

A rather small space to exhibit much art in, Then why not reserve it for “ Edward S. Martin ? ”

Or, if it were thought they could put but a dab in,
Then why not be courteous and let “John B. Tabb ” in ?

Now where was the agent of that babbling trio —
Ubiquitous “ Elsa ” and “ Zona ” and “ Theo ? ”

Yes, somebody blundered — so careless, so reckless
To let any one of those mentioned go checkless !

But thank you, Sir Editor, for this brief space is
In Magazine Verse Land a charming oasis.

Far fairer than latter-day lyric or sonnet
Is this virgin half-page without a thing on it!