In the quiet of my study, papers scattered, thoughts take flight,
YeIn the quiet of my study
Papers scattered
Thoughts take flight
Years of work, so clear
So concise, a beacon in the night
Through every trial
Each presentation
Polished every phrase and line
Submitted with a heart full of hope
To judgement so blind

The editor's cold embrace
Swift to undercut my stride
"Relevance lacking"
So it claims
"too trivial
Yet overwrought inside"
Referee number two
The root of all my trials
Casting shadows, sowing doubt
Misunderstood, dismissed
My meticulous toil left out
In the cold, without

My nemesis, yet my guide
My downfall, yet light provided
Harsh lessons sharply learned
In shadows, doubts stirred

Now behind the desk
Roles reversed
A manuscript lies in my hold
Adequate, yet lacking a spark
The narrative cold, unbold
Words not quite right
Elegance lost
A story struggling to unfold
A dilemma grows within me
What fate will my verdict hold?

To wield my pen with grace
Or cast a shadow too long
Echoing the paths once walked
The rights and the wrongs
Be the light in their darkness
Or the storm they feared all along?
A heavy decision upon my soul
In this scholarly song

My nemesis, yet my guide
My downfall, yet light provided
Harsh lessons sharply learned
In shadows, doubts stirred

Referee Number Two
Your fate's in my grasp
Which path to take?
A choice to unclasp
Will I be friend
Guide you through?
Or turn enemy, shadows pursue?

Will kindness prevail
In deeds and word?
Or mirror the past
A cycle stirred?
Referee Number Two
Today I decidears of work, so clear, so concise, a beacon in the night.
Through every trial, each presentation, polished every phrase and line,
Submitted with a heart full of hope, to judgement so blind.

The editor's cold embrace, swift to undercut my stride,
"Relevance lacking," so it claims, "too trivial, yet overwrought inside."
Referee number two, the root of all my trials, casting shadows, sowing doubt,
Misunderstood, dismissed, my meticulous toil left out in the cold, without.

My nemesis, yet my guide,
My downfall, yet light provided.
Harsh lessons sharply learned,
In shadows, doubts stirred.

Now behind the desk, roles reversed, a manuscript lies in my hold,
Adequate, yet lacking a spark, the narrative cold, unbold.
Words not quite right, elegance lost, a story struggling to unfold,
A dilemma grows within me, what fate will my verdict hold?

To wield my pen with grace, or cast a shadow too long,
Echoing the paths once walked, the rights and the wrongs.
Be the light in their darkness, or the storm they feared all along?
A heavy decision upon my soul, in this scholarly song.

My nemesis, yet my guide,
My downfall, yet light provided.
Harsh lessons sharply learned,
In shadows, doubts stirred.

Referee Number Two, your fate's in my grasp,
Which path to take? A choice to unclasp.
Will I be friend, guide you through?
Or turn enemy, shadows pursue?

Will kindness prevail, in deeds and word?
Or mirror the past, a cycle stirred?
Referee Number Two, today I decide.