revision pens

“Begin at the beginning," the King said, very gravely, 

"and go on till you come to the end: then stop.”

~Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Behold the revision pen.  

An excellent marker of progress.

 

Grey for the first full read-through.

Green for the second.  

Then orange for the third.

Sometimes, with so many notes in one color, 

the favorite pen won't make it to the end 

and a (worthy) replacement is called in.

Sometimes nibbled, always worn down to a nub, they remind the writer that stroke by stroke, pen by pen, progress is being made.

And after a dignified performance, the old pen 

is retired (and recycled) and a new pen, 

in a new color, awaits the 

next round...or the next manuscript.