Recite!

'Recite!' he said
I quivered then
And slowly lowered down my pen

'Recite' he said
I took a breath
Could this be where I meet my death?

'Recite!' he said
My thoughts all fled
All literature then left my head

'Recite!' he said
My brow did sweat
All poems did my brain forget

'Recite!' he said
His bold command
Took away my will to stand

'Recite!' he said
And then, dear light
I thought of one to put things right

'Oh pretty little daffodil …'

'Not that one!' he snapped