[John Whitworth]

I'm not sure what that first line is doing at the top of my poem. It doesn't belong there, as is fairly obvious. Did I write it in a trance?

[Jayne Osborn]

Oo-er, John, I hadn't noticed, but you're right.

Looking back to the original thread you didn't write that line at all... it must be them at Oldie Towers wot done it!

I simply type up what's on the page. Would you like me to delete that superfluous line? It must have sneaked in from someone else's poem, I reckon.

Jayne

[John Whitworth]

Yes Jayne. It's quite a good line but it ain't mine.

[Ann Drysdale]

I reckon it's the ghost of a title (or even a line) the poem had on its way to becoming what it is now. I have long suspected that old mod-privilege of being able to edit without trace might one day rise to bite a bum.

Go on, Jayne, do that thing with spit on a hanky, just as John's gran would have done.

[John Whitworth]

You could be right, Ann. As I said it's not a bad line.

Originally Posted by Ann Drysdale

I reckon it's the ghost of a title (or even a line) the poem had on its way to becoming what it is now. I have long suspected that old mod-privilege of being able to edit without trace might one day rise to bite a bum.

Go on, Jayne, do that thing with spit on a hanky, just as John's gran would have done.

[Jerome Betts]

Ah no, John and Ann, it's the first line of a prize-winning entry in the 'Wrong Kind of Apple' comp by F.M., He-Who-Must-Not-Be Named.

Also, Line 12 of Paul Elmhirst's evocative piece needs reuniting with its Stanza 3.

Nice to see competition grande dames D.A. Prince and Katie Mallett up there with John.

[John Whitworth]

Thank you, Jerome.

If those estimable ladies are grandes dames then I must be old fart magnificent.