thank you for being supportive and I hope we get a chance to meet soon - look forward to seeing the article once it's all up and running.

Also, it is good tomeet someone who believes in reading and education in relation to our own development of writing!

I wanted something to accessorise my ermine robes and I saw that hat I thought it was to die for.

Why the Matador outfit Dermot?

Thanks Steve, and if I get someone sacked for laughing, I will burst with pride - people getting sacked while reading that poem was probably what the city analysts had in mind when they were predicting 2 million unemployed by the end of the year.

Paul - who knows? Maybe I was, maybe we all were. Maybe that's how we got here.

Whilst reading antonioni's Salford poem I came across your very own Salford poem.

It made me laugh out loud. At work. I found myself on the receiving end of strange looks.

One day they'll sack me. Probably. You'll be responsible. Partially.

I'm intrigued by your biography and find myself breathless with anticipation, waiting for the inevitable masterpiece about a peaceful puppy's love for flowers. You wouldn't lie in your biography, would you?

Keep up the good work. And the bad work (important!). I'd hate to think that any aspect of your life could be thrown out of balance.

Dear God DG you look like you've been painted by an ancient Dutch Master - just how old are you?

Yes. I suggest you go right back to the basics young man, and start again. You are obviously one of these experimental Johnnies, and there is nothing wrong with that as long as it's done in the privacy of your own home. You may find my 'recipe for an experimental poem' will be of some help. I have posted it on the rhyme thread of the discussion forum. You, and other young poets (I can tell you're a mere whippersnapper by your daguerrotype), will probably find my guidance very beneficial.

Rather annoyingly, that's fair comment on the Chechen chickens one. Even more annoyingly, that is the one "poem" that I have managed to sell more times than any other poems I have sold, and for the most money in any one sale too!

Bloody rubbish! I can't believe people are showering praise on this unadulterated ordure. If I had a pound for every time I had heard some half-arsed performance poet spouting about 'Chechen chickens' I'd have £17.37 by now. It doesn't even rhyme or scan properly. It's people like you who bring the world of poetry into disrepute. If I had my way you'd be sent away to fillet fresh fish fignons in Fiji or mince migratory mackerel morsels in Madagascan motel mezzanines.

The 'object' one was ok, though.

I know what you mean. I do feel compelled to leave someone a comment because they have left me one. I find the whole thing quite narcissistic, its a shame that one needs a comment to allow them to believe their poetry is good. There are however a few poets on the site who are more 'honest' than most and actually leave constructive criticism (which I am here for, I generally know whether right or wrong, what is good about my poems but Im blind to my own weaknesses) Darren for example. Do you attend the gigs?

I read your posts on the what is poetry? argument posted by myself originally and you sounded so intelligent and confident of your opinions I alsmost hoped I wouldnt like your poems! But of what Ive read I have to say I've enjoyed and found your choice of words and language engaged me alot into the world of your poem and created very vivid images. I love the subtleness of the image of the spade against the wall. Thanks. Richard

You are very generous indeed with your praise, but all I really achieved was to bring the two sides together and get them to start talking and listening to each other rather than bombing each other, eventually bringing peace and stability to the region; so my role was really quite minor. Nonetheless, it remains a very poignant poem to this day.

In the annals of recorded poetry I can't think of any poet better than you, you are (to quote another great poet) simply the best!

Thanks Paul, and I know what you mean about the imagery - reading that one back I almost get the feeling that I'm actually there and that I can practically taste those chickens!

What an absolutely marvellous poet you are DM! Your imagery is breath-taking, you scan with the best and your rhyme is sublime.
;)

I don't quite get the chickens, but you're obviously a fantastic poet.

Dermot - I've just got back from the Howcroft. I'd just like to say that I thought your poem about an 'orchestra' was superb. This performance poetry 'thang' is doing your poetry a world of good. Well done.

Hi Dermot, just want to say i think you did a fantastic job as compere on Thursday at the Tudor. You managed to keep us all entertained with both your own work and your repertoire.
God only knows how you rattled off so many introductions in flowing extracts from their work, but well done. It was a pleasure to meet you and hope to see you again soon.
Lots o love. Janet.xx

That's a beard and a half DG!

The chicken thing could be quite embarrassing on a live open mic night unless you're good at tongue twisters. Although i suppose if you got it wrong it would be nice if the people laughed with you rather than at you. Better still when one can laugh at their own mistakes.
"Every object" screams "objection, subjection and intervention." All kinds of everything in this one. I enjoyed them so much i read them several times and still want to see more in them.
Thanks for entertaining me. janet.x