dear all, am having great problems with getting on line so have come to the local library to read all your subs but do not have time to reply fully as your time is limited here. I have been laughing quietly at the postings. I too took a sharp intake of breath reading Christina's last sub, and got to the third line before bells alarm were ringing and I realized we were being sent up, clever wasn't it. The debate about 'show not tell' was interesting too. I think of all the replies I come nearest in agreement with Arthur, sometimes we, and I know I do, take for granted the reader will understand the reference point from which I write and the whole piece can then just become bewildering obscurity, because what seems so clear to us just does not compute with them. Though on the other hand I do agree to show the obvious can make a poem seem clumsy and can irritate the reader as it can appear very patronising. Hope to be back on line soon as it is difficult to concentrate here     regards Ann