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Neither together as together can be,
nor separate as separate will decree,
On my either side,
absent is the customary divide.
Like a bridge joins more than one shore,
I strengthen the relations presented in lore.
In another life, I am a thief,
but I do not always equate to grief.
Note that my size is important.
To misuse me is abhorrent.
In an act of abeyance,
You must lengthen me to cut short your conveyance.
I have perhaps bemused you with my performance?
I assure you, in many a role, my visage is in conformance.
Now think long and hard.
What is the answer I guard?
nor separate as separate will decree,
On my either side,
absent is the customary divide.
Like a bridge joins more than one shore,
I strengthen the relations presented in lore.
In another life, I am a thief,
but I do not always equate to grief.
Note that my size is important.
To misuse me is abhorrent.
In an act of abeyance,
You must lengthen me to cut short your conveyance.
I have perhaps bemused you with my performance?
I assure you, in many a role, my visage is in conformance.
Now think long and hard.
What is the answer I guard?
Answer
To your pen, I am the same,but of what you call me, I have many a name.
When words find me in company,
I may keep long lines from getting lumpy.
Betwixt a compound modifier, I'll also sit.
Here, a hyphen, you should not forget.
Stretch me longer and your dialogue, I'll clip,
perfect for a quick quip.
When I get you to the next line in a flash,
or stand in for other punctuation, I am called a dash.
Among numbers, I also operate,
but only with my own kind do I copulate.
Stealing from positive integers, but adding to my own kind,
subtraction can be a wicked sign.
A method actor, under many a name, I come to call.
Who would have thought a mere line could do this all?
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Nice work! I can see that a great deal of effort was put into this.
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