The arguments were well received.
All points had, clearly, been achieved.
And true sincerity had quelled
All reservations that I held.
I would have signed the order, then,
If s/he had just produced the pen.
But s/he kept right on talking.

Couldn't s/he see s/he'd raised my hopes;
That I was hanging on the ropes?
S/he had sold and, man alive,
The time to close had now arrived.
I wanted desperately to sign
If s/he would just point out the line;
But s/he kept right on talking.

And then my mind began to stray
To pressing matters of the day.
That voice, now growing even higher
In its enthusiastic fire,
Became distraction, then a bore.
I couldn't take it any more.
But s/he kept right on talking.

I stood, to bring it to an end;
"My time is limited, my friend."
"But, sir, I thought-," s/he numbly said.
"You thought that I was interested?
Perhaps I was, but not today."
I didn't have the heart to say,
S/he'd killed this sale by talking.

It is a paradox, but true;
Though talk can bring success to you,
Oh, what a tragic thing to see
The source of failure it can be.
So, if you want the winner's cup,
You'll make your point and then shut up...
And not keep right on talking.

--Anonymous