Hugh,
I have absolutely no intentions to cross swords with a knight in a poetic armour. Yesterday I thought of saying a few good words about your Overland poem (I liked the structure, rhythm and cadence), but you'd already told the list about it so I just shut up. Here's to lightheartedness (in the hope that although I'm an old hag you'll come to my rescue one day):


Poetry Workshop

Let’s play poets.

You could be Shakespeare
and write about my wire-like dark hair
and how ungracefully I tread on the ground.

I could be Plath
without the self
-aggrandising neuroses,
so I could write
some Plathitudes.

Then you could rightfully ask
“Shall I compare thee to the mighty poet?”
and I’d modestly say I’m but a counterfeit,
which, by the way, I can do
exceptionally well.

On realising that poets
are of imagination all compact
we’d take a break
to discuss the GST.

        Ioana Petrescu