Friday poem

An errata is a loose-leaf list of corrections placed in a book after it's been published. I wondered if you could tell a different story of a relationship just through a book's errata.

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Errata

Acknowledgements: Praise of her loyalty will ring false to anyone familiar with the situation.

Page 12: The author intimates a knowledge he cannot possess.

45: Reference to the transcendence of their lovemaking can be disregarded entirely.

87: For “1978” read “1979.”

123: Such chemicals, when mixed, do not yield poison of the lethality necessary for the events that follow.

160: For “children” read “ungrateful, possibly illegitimate offspring.”

188: There is debate in the historical community over this point; the author’s argument steps onto the slipperiest of slopes.

201: For “wife” read “former spouse.”

228: Clearly this should read “envy.”

270: We are such stuff as dreams are made “on” (not “of”). Most of us.

289: For “comfortable” read “embittered.” For “beautiful” read “once lovely.” For “masterwork” read “contractual obligation.”

End matter: The genealogical tables reproduced here assume facts still in dispute.

Back cover: The author’s photo has been significantly retouched.