I'm an obsessive for a particular genre of poetry..
..this is going to sound horribly pretencious, but imagine growing up shy and retiring in a house full of French literature as a result of a mother who teaches the language..

So age 13/14 I developed a lasting taste for the "damned poets" - Verlaine (in particular Verlaine), Baudelaire, Rimbaud, Apolinaire etc.. and not a few more obscure ones such as Theophile Gautier and Gerard de Nerval (well worth tracking down translations of his stuff if you want to feel especially poncey in a kinda cool way). I wont write any poems out here for fear someone one the internet might reach through my screen and slap me.

I've written lots of poetry. I have a wicker basket full. Some in French.. Not written much in recent years though and not sure any is worthy of printing in public; still less that I want any of it printed here.

@BGB.. John Hegley's touring at the moment and he's ace live - properly entertaining.
(raymond "three griddle pans" luxury yacht lovin' the christmas action, Wed 7 Jan 2009, 21:14, Reply)