Point of order. The salient difference between prose and poetry is that in the former the typesetter (or digital equivalent) decides where the line ends and in the latter the decison rests (for good or ill) with the author. What you write is extremely bad free verse. And the difference between my criticism of your writing and your self-mockery is that I actually mean it. You could, if you chose, write differently. The reason you don't is that you've clearly figured out that some people are buying it. Which is annoying, because it makes me look mean.
I don't agree about sage, actually - I love it, but like tarragon it shouldn't be bandied about carelessly. But I digress - if you wish people to enjoy sharing good-natured small talk with you, you'd be better advised not to insult their intelligence in the same or adjacent posts. There's no way round the fact that your contribution to this thread is a disgrace - and it's one that is compounded, not mitigated, by the manner in which you choose to fill up the internet. Which is a suitably prolix way of saying that we (except for Mugshot) have got your number.
Sir/Madam,
Blimey!
This really gets to you, doesn't it? Truly, it is not poetry; it is not verse; it is not free verse. It is prose.
Certainly it is extremely bad. We agree on that at least.
Of course I could write differently. We all could.
I don't write as I do because I've figured out that some people are buying it. I'm not even sure what is is I'm supposed to have figured out that they're buying.
Don't be annoyed; I'm sure if you've figured out whatever it is that some people are buying but I'm not aware of selling, then the majority will be with you in not seeing you as mean. I certainly don't think you're mean. I think you're lovely.
If you're right (and you sound as if you usually are) then everyone will agree with you that my contribution to this thread has been a disgrace. That is not something to be proud of.
I must go to collect my youngest from Hockey now, but I will try very, very hard in future not to be disgracefully disigenuous, not to write accidentally in very bad free verse when I thought I was writing dull prose, not to have opinions that differ from yours, not to cravenly give up tarmac to motorists and then covet its return, not to pretend partially to agree with people, not to seethe with...
Cripes! Thanks for all the nudges and suggestions, but I must be honest with you: For the life of me I cannot remember half the advice you've been kind enough to offer me on this thread.
Oh Bother! I've just used up another whole slice of Internet.
I still think Magnatom was being needlessly offensive to the woman in the Freelander.