A hard writing I had of it; br the words clumsy, the sense banal... br br escaping from rhyme isn't easy; br half a lifetime to work up to it br then like skirt length, that's it, br the line's short this season, br and rhyme is, so, like, so last year... br br (and must be insincere br if you have to work at it br or even want to) br br so there I was in the br midst of getting the br hang of cutting the line at the br best place for the br sense, to avoid the br artificial on the br one hand and the br banal on the br other -the br art that conceals the br art - br br and scenting euphony, when suddenly - br a crash - and in there lumbered - 'woodenly'... br br I twigged instantly that it wouldn't br go without a struggle; br and called in Suddenly for questioning - br had they some sort of pact in the recesses of my mind - br kissin' cousins, blood brothers, partners in rhyme? br br Suddenly denied this vigorously - br never been asked such a question before, br wouldn't want to associate etc.; br a word only used by theatre critics... br br So I sighed and threw out my neatly chopped prose, br spontaneity, jokes, and anything goes; br and returned to meaningful old-fashioned verse br so woodenly crafted - well, poets have done worse.