When I was very young, <br />Poetry <br />was written by <br />AA Milne. <br />and life was comfy. <br /> <br />When I was an adolescent, <br />Poetry <br />was written by <br />pansies for pansies about pansies. <br />though daffodils <br />were lifestyle and exam-inable. <br />and life was scary <br /> <br />When I was at college, <br />Poetry <br />was written by <br />a chap in a leather jacket <br />who glared at you angrily <br />on his no-gear pushbike <br />as he rode out to save the world. <br />and life was a cold war and still scary. <br /> <br />When I was middle-aged, <br />Poetry <br />was in the assured embrace <br />of the Arts Council and a chap at the BBC <br />and the world managed quite well without poets <br />but life was still scary. <br /> <br />Now <br />I am old enough <br />to swop lifestyle notes with Jenny Joseph, <br />Poetry <br />means that <br />a poem's 'text' may be <br />i h8 u <br />BUT <br />it's read right round the world <br />by lots of people. Like you. <br />and life is full of promise... <br /> <br />Now that deserves a Metaphor. <br /> <br />'A what? ' said Pooh.<br /><br />Michael Shepherd<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/poetry-means-uh/
