I just wrote a poem about a weekend spent in Paris about 20 years ago. It came easily, cos I could just see some images in my head. No way could I remember it as a complete experience, just the pictures. I think if I had a detailed memory I would have been too confused with the whole thing to select what to put in a poem. Just a thought. Now, what did I come upstairs for????

Was the bad bit being handcuffed to the bed post - or was that the good bit?

I am of the opinion that any of kind of pain or suffering shapes us into whole individuals - more capable of empathy and understanding. That is not to say that I would seek pain our or wish it on anyone. I have a half written poem about the subject which I might finish and inflict on you one day.

I suppose it depends on what you look for in art/poetry. I like poetry that moves me in some way. I therefore appreciate poets who have a heart and an appreciation of the human condition. I guess there are others who just like art for art and poetry for its sound rather than its meaning. Horses for courses and all that....

If you mean bad as in vague, I don't think it really matters. Whether you record an event accurately or whether you use your imagination to fill in the bits you've forgotten - just so long as it strikes a chord.

Eh ben voilà ! Isobel a tout dit...
Et en plus elle le dit parfois mieux que moi.

chin-chin... et à bientôt ; )

I agree with Isobel. And add that one of the most maddening things in life (at the sub-tragic/real pain 'irritation level' anyway) is to think of some great lines for a poem and then forget them. Definitely worse than breaking something in the washing up or a minor toe-stubbing.

Perhaps forgetting works where the imagination needs just so much to feed on and no more. Enough to make the mind fly, and - if it's a real incident - to connect with what was really important in it. Like bidets, strong coffee and er...bedposts.

I meant bad as in being bloomin' forgetful! Not painful and nasty. That didn't occur to me! Vague use of language there, sorry folks! xxxx

I keep forgetting where I put my pen. That's bad for my poetry.

But if you can't remember something, just lie. Works for me...

Standing for Parliament, are we, Steven?