and what, after all, br was so wrong br with simple rhyme br br and quaint folk br ballads of love? br br br have poets often br not been first br burst to spot br br shape still forming from ground br br dipped diamond-tipped pens br in pools of time br br stirring up br currents of insights br br that grew, in course br of time to waves? br br br do we not br compose, br br solely for handfuls br of loyal listeners br br bubblings up wellsprings, br words br br meant merely to delight br and entertain the mind br br moving heart to very muscle? br br br but what have all these labours br by we self-confessed saviours, br br the 'unacknowledged legislators br of the world'* br produced? br br a laugh or two? br br maybe even a few br bucks on the side? br br a moment's pride? br br lifetimes br brain-busting br heart-bursting br outpourings br br measuring, br on balance, br br about a penny each? br br br yet still poets br ply trade br reporting, br br as is calling, br pivot points of day- br br so what can br such a minute br band of misfits, br br forever at odds br with every era br br do but br lift up br unheard voices br br on behalf of br voiceless humanity? br br br *Percy Bysshe Shelley: A Defence of Poetry; 1821 br br 2 february 12,2012br br doug bentleybr br