hello Arthur,

yes, resignation is about the only reasonable response, I think - I agree
that I'm a touch incorrigible in the punctuation department, and if it
affects the ability of a reader to get the best from the poem, then it is at
my own expense <sigh>

The reading is a great help. I saw myself on telly a couple of nights ago
and have discovered a whole new range of things to learn and master to
enhance presentation in that, and presumably all, spoken word mediums. Truly
a lot to learn, but potentially great fun. In that regard, the line breaks
are critical and I genuinely attempt to keep working on those as an aid to
reading the poem - on page and aloud. Again, much distance to travel, but
progressing, I hope.

I'm glad that 'scribble artist' works for you despite all that. It is a
couple of hundred poems since the 'sabres at patterson river' piece you
refer to. In a way a whole generation of writing ago, for me. This charactor
in 'scribble artist' ghas arisen on about a dozen occasions since then and
is a little amazing to me - he speaks profound thoughts that I can't claim
to at my own level. On this occasion, I suspect he popped up to challenge me
from getting big-headed after a period offairly intense (and I hope
successful) writing - I've been trying to dig deep to get to a new level of
this and that (as one does).

Glad you enjoyed, thank you very much for comments - and again, apologies
for the punctuation issue - it's just an on-going thing that I expect will
irritate, but hopefully not put off any reader.

Cheers,

Frank



> Frank, I have begun to resign myself to the fact that your non-use of
> punctuation is an incorrigible facet of your work. I think your reasons
for
> so doing are the worst but no matter. I note from your other postings and
> comments that you do a lot of readings, and I applaud this. Reading aloud
is
> how it should be done. In that sense since you are reading/performing your
> own work and punctuation is as unnecessary as written music was to Mozart.
> So I have learned to read your work as though it were being performed.
With
> all those provisos I find 'scribble artist' by far the best piece of yours
I
> have read since 'sabres at somewhere or other' ( I forget where.)
> This poem has humour and great depth. The thick accent of its speaker
comes
> over as part of its music and such punctuation as you permit yourself (
and
> rather undermines your protestations that you never understood the ways of
> punctuatuation somewhat) serve to imbue inflection to the voice. The point
> that the poem is making is profound and asks the question we should all
ask
> ourselves ' are we artisis or just pretty scribble boys'.
> A thoroughly enjoyable read for which thanks. regards Arthur.