Can there be anything so silly yet so awe-inspiring as this poem by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson the author of Alice's marvellous adventures, oh to be able to emulate, just read and enjoy. ’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe: All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe. “Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun The frumious Bandersnatch!” He took his vorpal sword in hand; Long time the manxome foe he sought— So rested he by the Tumtum tree And stood awhile in thought. And, as in uffish thought he stood, The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame, Came whiffling through the tulgey wood, And burbled as it came! One, two! One, two! And through and through The vorpal blade went snicker-snack! He left it dead, and with its head He went galumphing back. “And hast thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!” He chortled in his joy. ’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe: All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe.

This is an example of musical poetry by the brilliant S&G, this is simplistic but evokes great imagery which goes to show that not every work needs to be an epic, a Wordsworth or a Shakespeare. When I have a mental block then I turn on and listen to some great singer-songwriters, such as Kate Bush, John Lennon, and of course Simon and Garfunkle I'd rather be a sparrow than a snail Yes, I would If I could I surely would I'd rather be a hammer than a nail Yes, I would If I could I surely would Away, I'd rather sail away Like a swan that's here and gone A man gets tied up to the ground He gives the world its saddest sound Its saddest sound I'd rather be a forest than a street Yes, I would If I could I surely would I'd rather feel the earth beneath my feet Yes, I would If I only could

This was the first poem I remember ever reading, my imagination ran riot thinking of this little ink sprite, I wanted to write because of this poem as it enabled me to see that images can be triggered by words, I think I was about 9 or 10 when I first read this poem and have read it often since and it still has the same power for my imagination Jack-of-the-Inkpot By Algernon Blackwood I dance on your paper, I hide in your pen, I make in your ink-stand My little black den; And when you’re not looking I hop on your nose, And leave on your forehead The marks of my toes. When you’re trying to finish Your ‘i’ With a dot, I slip down your finger And make it a blot; And when you’re so busy To cross a big ‘T’ I make on the paper A little Black Sea. I drink blotting-paper, Eat penwiper pie, You never can catch me, You never need try! I leap any distance, I use any ink, I’m on to your fingers Before you can wink.

Got my second print published poem, That's Just Crazy. That's just crazy, seeing An elephant climb an Acacia nut tree, Or hedgehogs on a supermarket spree, Even marrying a blue whale called Penelope. Even crazier than that would be Seeing a horse playing Texas hold ‘em, A cat doing laundry, ironing and folding ‘em, A parade of Echidnas with one Ant beholding ‘em. That is so crazy to comprehend But what's even crazier for me to see Together forever is what I thought we’d be But whilst I’m in love with you, you’re not in love with me.

I received today a copy of the Sunflower Poetry Review and Digest which has my first ever published poem, entitled Sharon's Song. I am so proud of myself and this gives me the impetus to carry on and get even more published including my own collection. Sharon's Song Please don't go, yet I knew that if you stayed we'd only fight. I thought it true, that given time Our love would see us right. How ironic, separated we're better, together. It's sad we couldn't be surrounded By our love forever. I miss those loving moments When you were beside me here. Once again I long to tenderly hold you close my dear. I loved all about you, the way you are, the way you act. It's strange, when you were here, I didn't appreciate that fact. I know now that it's far too late To express how I feel It's true, the love I felt for you Was without doubt, real Finally realising that I must get on with life But you will stay forever, My friend, my lover, my wife

I have for many years been in awe of the poet Stevie Smith, I can recognise everything in her poems, and having read her life story I recognise, even more, I have written a poem about her. When it comes to Authors then it has to be CJ Sansom, his historical novels set during the Tudor period are so well researched, on top of that there is a murder mystery to be solved by a Lincolns Inn lawyer Matthew Shardlake, the series of books are amazing