Who saw the Dylan Thomas film on BBC2 last night, which was largely about his last days in New York. There was lots of drinking, some throwing up, plenty of fairly joyless sex, and a bit of poetry. I felt the most moving - well, the only moving moment - was when he visited his father on his deathbed, and we heard 'Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night'. What did others think?

I saw it. Not sure if it's the one I saw years ago (didn't catch the preambles or the post scripts). Much seemed familiar, but that would be understandable, of course.

I wasn't looking to be 'moved', just better informed about facts that can be substantiated, public or private. Reconstruction of intimate personal lives/relationships, and certainly conversations, is pure conjecture. Constructed for purpose.

The romance of the 'demon drink' is highlighted and perpetuated, and encouraged. 'You cannot be a 'real poet' unless you are a tormented soul.'

I suppose if we let 'the works' speak for themselves, universities would go out of business.

Someone gimmee a drink!

Oh Lord! Am I that overbearing? Didn't mean to be.

But I do find it hard sometimes to see the efforts some poets will go to, to caricature themselves to be 'different'. It's often difficult to separate showbizz from sincerity. But there's no reason why the showbizz can't be sincere. So - there you go - a carousel of convoluted reasoning. I'm a mess.