A Blot On the Copybook

To Blot one's Copybook A phrase that is now outdated Then people used pen and ink to scribe So words could be translated In bygone days work was performed With care and deliberation To blot one's copybook Was cause for consternation It took your pride away When you took a worried look All you saw was the blot That jumped out of the page The longer you stared at it The stronger your rage You thought the page was ruined And something pure had died You had failed to notice The perfection around the sides