1. Scouting

He studies the tracks of cites across the opening
to get some feeling of where the authors were
and where they lead,
then he steps back to take in the structured abstract.

He sees where some pitfalls will be
and pokes especially into some sections at risk.
He puts it aside until he receives his first
reminder. The friendly one.

2. The Mom and Pop Journal Accepts its First Paper

Yes, thank you. We will take it.
No changes are required. The reviews
were so positive, so uncomplaining,
that we need not send them.

Keep us in mind as a further outlet
for your surpassing work.

Tell your friends.

3. The Review Compulsive

Longer than the paper, singled-spaced, small-fonted,
thorough, referenced, many-lessoned.
Stentorious.

An opus.

No infinitives split. Itself peer reviewed.
"Look at this, " he says. "Read what I have written here.
"This is confidential you understand, but read what I
have to say here."

4. Getting into Science!

Publish this.
Room must be made.
Make room.
You must.

The paradigms will shift
like line dancers.

The leading professors
will smack their heads
with the flats of their hands.

The science writers will plead
for features, for covers.

The network anchors themselves
will read the news of this.

Yes! Accept this! Publish this! Yes!

5. The Review Abrupt

That is that:
The study wounded beyond healing,
downed--an artery cut, vital organs in collapse.

6. The Re-review Contentious

Still they have not gotten it right.
They have made the small changes,
But none of the big ones.

They are slippery and unctuous
in their so-called letter of response.
They are trying to slip this one by you.

7. The Review Avoided

My stepson's wife lost money on a time-share
put forward by the third author
not less than two years ago.
A lot of money. Lost money that caused
problems with her husband - my wife's son.

I feel unable to offer comment absent the appearance of conflict.

8. The Re-review Accommodating

a. O.K.
b. O.K.
c. Fine.
d. Good.
e. I see now what you meant.
f. Good.
g. Much better.
h. This is now good.
i. Fine.

9. The Review Nostalgic

More than his name spelled right,
an old line of his is now taken up
by someone other than him.
All afternoon he reads and thinks.

This is not the way
he would have done it,
but the treatment is unhostile
and connected to him.

He remembers the running of his study,
and a colleague now dead.
He checks two calculations
with formulae he knows by heart.

He thinks about importance.
Not half bad, he thinks,
perhaps good enough.
He thinks more about importance.