by Stephen Parrish
‘d be happy if only my book were finished.
My book is finished, and I’d be happy if only I had an agent.
I have an agent, and I’d be happy if only I had a publisher.
I have a publisher, and I’d be happy if only my book were a bestseller.
My book is a bestseller, and I’d be happy if only it won a Pulitzer.
It won a Pulitzer, and I’d be happy if only they awarded me a Nobel.
They awarded me a Nobel, and I’d be happy if only I were young again, writing my first book.
Stephen Parrish is the editor of The Lascaux Review.
