I'm not surprised. It's in the air I tell you.

You're right that it's worth pursuing, it is an interesting project. But I do believe that poetry should always remember that it comes, at source, from an oral tradition, the rhythmic use of language to plant concepts and images into a culture, and that poetry that makes no concession to the ear is going to be hard going. There doesn't have to be a strict metre, but a speech rhythm helps and this poem has the rhythm of a cut-up essay - it doesn't help to bring the reader into your ideas but acts as an obstacle. I wouldn't read a politics essay for pleasure, but I would read a good political poem for pleasure. But there's no reason why your idea shouldn't work with further refinement. Your 'Glamorgan' poem shows that you have very strong speech rhythms in you.

Maybe I just gravitate to the word 'tug'. Perhaps it is I who am obsessed.

Hang on old boy, Mr Jones doesn't speak for me or for England. Anyway, he's Welsh. Very different. However, I'm not sure if, as someone suggested before, Britain actually is responsible for the Afghanistan problem. One thing Britain can't be blamed for is the US arming and training rebels (who despised America all along) against the Soviet Union, keeping the seat nice and warm for the Taliban and then being surprised when they decided to use those same weapons against them. Make a pact with the devil and you will pay for it with your soul. Yes the English Empire made a lot of mistakes in the past, but some Americans should think more carefully before laying responsibility for all the world's problems at our door, which always seems to happen when the word 'Imperialism' comes up - because you plainly haven't learnt from our example and are making the same mistakes. But this time, with enough weaponry to destroy the planet. So yes, let's all think a bit more carefully before invading other countries without international support, because unilateral action by US and UK will be disastrous.

This Press Conference is now over. Good day gentlemen.

I am so pleased that birdies have finally infiltrated from my work to yours-this must be your new poem about your father and the sea. I'll take a look... And i do like to post as oftten as poss, just to keep you satisfied.

Do you know I am immoderately gladdened to hear that birdies are in your work-you must mean your new one about your father and the sea-let's have a look....

Especially first thing in the morning.

Well that's nice. Glad to see that I take the same priority in your day as a good crap!

Oh yes, I'm a definite tourist. I never get involved in anything meaningful.

I'll tell you something else, if poetandknowit reads this he'll have areal go at the swans. even though they're not even real birds.

You may be right. I know I ahd a reason for putting it there in the first place-some sort of idea of myself as a dilettante, a mere spectator. But I s'pose that's implicit in the rest of the poem.

That's so far from the truth! Though there is a beautiful wifey, I'm pretty terrible with kids. I'm always afraid I'm going to break them in some way, as I'm pretty clumsy and inept. I have a fear of dropping children on their heads.

Why you little sweetie!

I think I'm more the one woman, unsympathetic family man type. It's the family bit that doesn't sit so well with me...