Is McGonagall, as they say, the best worst poet in the English language? I certainly appreciate him enormously and have been (kind of) 'inspired' by him. If you haven't encountered him yet, do try

http://www.mcgonagall-online.org.uk/

Enjoy!

Dave, I resent that! Take a look at my stuff!

Hmmm, ticklish one this - gotta be diplomatic. John have you ever done anything as good (bad) as the Tay Bridge Disaster? Be honest - have you ever attained those heights (or is it depths?)

OK Dave, so I was being a little arrogant. Maybe I have a little way to go yet, but you have to agree my work shows promise.

Sorry John, I enjoyed your stuff too much at the Tudor (as did others). You'll have to try harder. McGonagall's wonderful combination of
* paying no attention to scanning
* stating the blindingly obvious as a wonderful truth
* describing events in gloriously tedious detail, and
* taking himself terribly seriously

is tough competition.

The last few lines of the Tay Bridge Disaster, for instance

'I must now conclude my lay
By telling the world fearlessly without the least dismay,
That your central girders would not have given way,
At least many sensible men do say,
Had they been supported on each side with buttresses,
At least many sensible men confesses,
For the stronger we our houses do build,
The less chance we have of being killed.'

Beat that!

The only reason he's the worstest
Is because he just beat me to it firstest
I don't see nobody else competin'
By stickin' their feet in.

Surely there's somebody else our there just as rotten;
Does nobody else aspire to the bottom?