There have always been poets who performed. Blake sang his Songs of Innocence and Experience to parties of friends.

Written poetry is different. Best thing is to see it in performance first, then read it. Performance is more provocative.

Lovers lie around in itBroken glass is found in itGrassI like that stuff

I was run over by the truth one day.Ever since the accident I've walked this way

The man who believes in giraffes would swallow anything.

When I am sad and wearyWhen I think all hope has goneWhen I walk along High HolbornI think of you with nothing on

I use rock and jazz and blues rhythms because I love that music. I hope my poetry has a relationship with good-time rock'n roll.

I don't like writing essays or theory.

I use the language I use to my friends. They wouldn't believe me if I used some high-flown literary language. I want them to believe me.

Stadium rock and commercial rock are the opposite of what poetry needs. An audience of around 200 is ideal for poetry.

Most people ignore most poetry because most poetry ignores most people.

You put your bombers in, you put your conscience out,You take the human being and you twist it all aboutSo scrub my skin with womenChain my tongue with whiskyStuff my nose with garlicCoat my eyes with butterFill my ears with silverStick my legs in plasterTell me lies about Vietnam.

I would have walked on the waterBut I wasn't fully insured.And the BMA sent a writ my wayWith the very first leper I cured.

Poetry is an extra hand. It can caress or tickle. It can clench and fight.

I want to speak, to sing to total strangers. It's my way of talking to the world.