The Sneeze

by Alice Woodrome

It started with an itch, a tiny itch
In the region of her nose.
She touched its tip and sniffed a bit
And blotted a little flow.

She can't do more. Oh, no, not now.
News anchors do not sneeze.
At least they can't while reading the news.
The itch then grew by degree.

It began to feel like a bumble bee
Was making a home in her nose.
She smiled and read and wiggled her nose
And wished that she could blow.

She felt it coming; it wouldn't stop.
She finished a sentence and gasped.
The airways echoed with a mighty sneeze.
The newsroom was aghast.

And now when faux pas are talked about,
Famous blunders - gaffes of the past,
That singular sneeze is spoken of,
The blast was never surpassed.