Crocus at Nottingham

Now, where was I?  I’ve had a message from NHS on my phone telling me that I have  new appointment with Urology for the end of April and can expect a letter shortly. I’ve had a letter, which tells me something completely different and which answers none of the questions I asked have been answered but there are a few phrases thrown in which appear to be fudging round the issue. I would say, looking at it, that they have had the letter, decided not to treat it seriously, throw in a few phrases like “administrative error” (without actually admitting one).

The letter, which arrived next day, tells me I must ring them to arrange a further appointment or they will remove me from the list.

It appears that the letter mentioned in the phone message is not the one that arrived. So yet again, I have two contradictory letters. Fortunately, though uncomfortable, I am not in poor health as a result. However, if this carries on much longer I might be.

Daffodils

I’ve also had two other phone calls. One told me that a recent urine sample shows signs of an infection and in view of my recent medical history I should probably have antibiotics. That might explain why I have been feeling under the weather recently, but apart from that vague feeling I have had no sign of illness. The other wanted me to make an appointment for a face to face discussion of my recent blood tests. This is driving Julia mad, as she suspects it means something bad is about to happen.

I assume that if something bad was about to happen they wouldn’t leave it for two weeks. However, I won’t make too many predictions because if it does turn out to be bad I don’t want to look like an idiot.

Tulips

Despite all this, the actual big news of the day is a rejection. It’s probably  good thing, as it has given me something to moan about instead of the NHS. It was a submission I nearly didn’t make at the end of last month. It features a guest editor, a submission limit of three tanka (rather than the usual 10), and a theme.

I have not had a lot of luck with guest editors over the years, though there is no sensible reason why they should be more difficult to satisfy than regular editors. Three poems, which is a standard number for anthologies and competitions, always seems to give you a lower chance of acceptance than magazines allowing ten, though again, if they are good enough, one would be plenty. And finally, the theme. I hate themes and often avoid submitting when they are required. I write poems. Themes are more like writing exercises.

Early irises at Harlow Carr

It’s always annoying to get a rejection, particularly in the middle of a good run, but these things happen. It’s also annoying to get rejected when I didn’t hold out high hopes in the first place. It is too easy, as I used to do as a beginner, to blame circumstances and develop a myth about certain things. There is no reason why a guest editor should be difficult, or why just submitting three should reduce my chances of acceptance.

The prejudice against themes, I will retain. They are fair enough in anthologies but I see little use for them in other publications.

It’s tempting to go off on a rant about other things i don’t like in making submissions, but I will resist the temptation. If poems are good enough they will be accepted.

Celandines

However, as I was told today, acceptance is subjective and another editor may have made a different choice. That’s meant to be encouraging, and implies that my submission is good enough to be selected by a different editor. Unfortunately, read another way, it implies that no matter how brilliant the poem, the spectre of rejection is always there if an editor take as against it.

The day, despite the NHS and rejection, was excellent, but that will have to wait for another post, as this is heading for 700 words and I need to get to bed.

The pictures will be spring flowers from various years. The crocuses, and even a few daffodils are appearing and this is one of my favourite times of year.

Japanese Quince – Arnot Hill Park