Ode to the Comma

Recently, I was a judge for a writing contest. It was exciting, humbling, and encouraging to read other people's work. There is so much talent out there! So many good writers. I'm glad there's a variety of readers to enjoy the myriad stories available.

One thing I noticed in many of the submissions was a lack of commas. I know the poor comma is on its way out of our language, but I am a fan. So I thought I'd write a tribute to that precious, little, infrequently used, and often debated punctuation mark...

Ode to the Comma

A number of years ago, when I was in school,
My English teacher shared with us a neat, useful tool.
Over the years, it has become a source of great drama.
I'm speaking, of course, of the mysterious comma.
It's not that hard to use, yet many people forget
Just how much this little mark, their writing, will benefit.
With the Oxford under scrutiny and heated dispute,
I'd like to take a moment for a comma salute.
In long lists, it provides needed separation,
And thoughtful pauses in the midst of revelation.
It aids in comprehension as it precedes conjunctions,
But many different folks have stopped using this function.
It starts dialogue between said and quotation marks,
The funny, tailed period with an extra little spark.
So celebrate the comma; use it when you write.
If you don't know how, then please Google a few websites!
The correct usage will make your writing resplendent,
And you will find this little mark is really quite transcendent.

Go, Team Comma!