TOUCHED

Hullo there.

With my cousin Sidaway off fighting a number of intense legal battles in connection with his RIG Software unveiled last week on these very pages, it gives me, The Bard of Bethnal Green, a chance to return and add a little culture to this column.

I was immensely flattered and touched by the deluge of letters from kind readers praising my first published poetry printed here on the e-pages of "If Selected...". I thank you all!

Such is the emotional tightrope that the sensitive modern poet finds himself constantly walking, public adoration is vital if one is to continue to be creative. Bolstered by such a positive response, I was able to sculpt some more delicate verse from the basic block that is my tortured soul, and have even managed to attract a publisher!

The Puffin Book of Amateur Football Verse will be available in all high-brow book-shops shortly, but in the meantime I have also managed to negotiate an exclusive e-deal for a certain cyber-rag to print some extracts in advance. In pursuance of my objective to make the e-zine "If Selected..." the finest football poetry corner on the web(!!) here is a selection from my latest batch of 'thoughtful' poems, solely and soul-ly for you, privileged readers. These are all about the Logica AFC footballer state and everyone should find something applicable to them (pretentious, moi!?).

Enjoy!

The Bard of BG.