"Ode to Mary Sue" Inspired by Savage City:

Ode to Mary Sue

Oh, Mary Sue,

why do you get written the way you do?

You’re criticized and thrown aside

by most readers –

and I don’t like reading about you either.

What is it that

we don’t like about you?

Is your

unrealistic lack of flaws

frustrating to read

because I know

perfection like you doesn’t exist

or because I want to be perfect

and you make me think it could be possible

if I just tried harder?

Maybe we’re too hard on you, Mary Sue.

Maybe you are a manifestation

of an author’s ideals,

of an author’s hope to change,

of an author’s renewed determination

to become better than they are.

Maybe instead of

rolling our eyes,

readers can take a page

from any one of your stories

and choose to correct a flaw,

choose to strengthen a weakness,

choose to be

a little better than we are.