Henry,
And I thought you didn't love me ;)
Much appreciated,
Janet

Much appreciated indeed Henry.

It's looking like some one hundred and twenty poems and fifty illustrations.

Robt ward is currently constructing and designing the book, as soon as he's finished it goes to print. Initially at least, it will be hardback, dustjacketed and comparable in quality of paper and finish to Wiley Clements's book. Wiley had the same publisher.

Jim

Janet and Jim, I'm delighted to learn of this collaboration. 120 Hayes poems with illustrations of the caliber exemplified above! It's got to be a classic.

But, Janet, you need to be careful. Here are some suggested precautions.

I see that one part of your job is to explore Jim's mind. Don't probe too deeply. Those who have tried before have gone permanently blind, insane, or tipsy.

He has water on the brain. Watch out for the brainwaves. If they occur, relieve them with a tap on the head. They are usually hilarious, so be careful not to wet yourself.

There's a place on his skull where a previous would-be collaborator dug a hole to find out what, if anything, was inside. That day Jim was writing and his poetry sucked. By this suction, the poor fellow was pulled in. On reappearing he was covered in fur of black creatures. He blurted out, “Bejeezuz, it’s batty in there,” and promptly died of an over-stimulated funny-bone. Whatever you do, don't go near that hole. It's a place of skullduggery.

On the positive side, you can often pick up a few nice trout in the “imagination” part of his cortex.

Finally, I hope you have an exclusiveness clause in your understanding with him. You don’t want to end up as half of a pair of his drawers.

All the best to the two of you. I'll be standing in line.

John

Hoho John,
Too late, too late! All of the above has happened. Batty indeed ;)

Many thanks for your touchingly generous message.

From the green place in my head,
Janet