You may have preconceived ideas about poetry, most probably from being forced to study poems at school.

From what I can remember they were about daffodils and summer. Therefore sleeping through class was far more appealing than actually having to read them.

It seems there is an ever growing number of poets.

This certainly seemed to be true at my college, where there was an endless supply of writers who would scribble down their musings, normally when they should have been attending lectures.

These aren't the kind of poems you were forced to study at school. Surprisingly few are about daffodils or summer, and they may make it difficult to sleep once you've read them!

Warped?

They do seem to present a seriously warped viewpoint on pretty much every aspect of life you can think of, whether it be love, death, war or even foods you don't like.

The great thing about these poems is that there seem to be no rules whatsoever.

It certainly seems at first glance that these people are as crazy as a diseased weasel possessed by a hermit crab.

But there's only one way to find out if they are as disturbed as their work suggests, so I decided to have a little chat with a few of them.

Any tips?

As an amateur poet myself, I also wondered if any of them had had any luck getting their work published... and if so could they do me any favours?

Heh, it's kinda cheeky but gotta be worth a try, and it's always great if a hobby turns into a career.

I have also included a few examples of various poets' work for you to have a look at.

Why did you start writing poetry?

Luke: Bored.

Scott: Yeah, boredom I guess, I have no idea!

Are you planning to do anything with what you've written - get published - or is it just a hobby?

Luke: I'd sell my poetry for women

Scott: I would like to get it published... would be great if it happened. I wouldn't use it as a career though, but if someone wanted to publish my work, that'd be great.

Some of what you've written is obviously very personal. Are you at all apprehensive about publicly sharing intimate details, particularly if people you know read it?

Luke: I'm not worried about intimate details, but sometimes people get the wrong impression and take what I've written the wrong way.

Scott: I find reading them back that they're too cryptic or off subject for people to really understand me.

Are there any poems you're particularly proud of, or any that you look at and think: "Why the hell did I write that?"

Luke: Most of my newer ones I'm more proud of because I was finding my feet to begin with, my early stuff was more basic and crappy, and my newer work is more refined.

Scott: The Day My Urine Was Blue was a very weird one for me, although I'm quite proud of my departure from my usual style.

Do you feel you've drawn influence from other poets/writers at all, and if so who?

Luke: Yeah him (points at Scott).

Scott: No, not for me, not so much poets, TV, films songs and lyricists influence me, for example Maynard James Keenan from Tool.

Obviously poetry requires a degree of creativity. Are you creative in other fields?

Luke: I make cheesy comics involving snowmen.

Scott: Er, yeah. I try and play guitar and I try and draw.

Do you think there are certain subjects that shouldn't be written about? Or can poetry be about anything?

Luke: Poetry can be about anything, there's just certain things I wouldn't like to read about

Scott: Surely it can be about anything, but maybe it shouldn't be - you should keep other people in mind.

Luke: No, it's personal. You should be able to write whatever you want.

Do you write your poetry with a particular audience in mind?

Luke: Not especially, just myself and whoever is stupid enough to read it.

Scott: Yeah.

Luke: Yeah who?

Scott: Anyone who can read - actually no. There's one I can think of that might hurt the reader, but it's just so cryptic I don't think audience is an issue.

How long have you been writing for?

Luke: Since 2002, but I'm crap at maths so work it out yourself.

Scott: A couple of years.

Do you have any advice for would-be poets at all?

Luke: Just keep writing, even if you think what you've written is terrible, don't give up.

Scott: Yeah, and get other people to comment on what you've written. Oh and read other people's work and let it influence you.

Finally, any last words?

Luke: My teeth hurt.

Scott: Beware of the green lemons - they have been known to bite.

My poems
Luke's poems
Scott's poems
Blast: Writing

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