In one of those moments of mind blank, writer’s block, can’t think to write my name let alone anything else, I got to wondering what we would have lost, if the poets of history had had the same problems, if they hadn’t recognised what was before them and subsequently were unable to turn out the great classics.
This pondering led to the following poem of my own. It’s a bit of fun and features references to 12 great poets and/or their works. You might enjoy trying to identify them all and if you have an idea for a couplet or quatrain about any of your favourites, then feel free to send them over in the comments and I’ll add them to the poem.
Hope you enjoy.

My writing mind blocked and searching for clues,
I thought to stroll awhile with the poetic muse.
At first, she bizarrely suggested I might
Take an old Grecian urn and upon it write.
Be assured if I possessed such an ancient thing,
I wouldn’t deface it with my scribbling.

At a leafy fork in the road we bore right
Where we chanced upon a black bearded miner up for a fight,
Insisting I couldn’t do better than take
For my subject, of all God’s creatures, a snake!
Miserable, scaly, belly slithering vermin!
Now I wished I’d taken the more travelled turning.

Round the corner a poppy-eyed fiend was relentlessly talking,
So naturally, I ducked my head and carried on walking
He ranted on about a poor sailor’s torments at sea.
I suspect he was really collecting for charity.

Wearying of it all I would have sat down
But for all the blooming daffodils covering the ground,
And the naked loon babbling about tigers on fire.
Imagine that, must have smelled like the foot and mouth pyre.

In a clearing a man with a cat in each hand
Championed writing about a wasteland
What’s that all about? There’s nothing there
Hello? Definition of wasteland? Barren and bare?

My muse introduced yet another, bawling a strain,
Demanding to go down to the sea again.
We awaited a suitable pause in his speech
Then joined him for an ice cream on the beach.

Finally, on the sand a Walrus and an odd man called Lear
In a pea-green boat and quite crazy I fear,
Proposed I try my hand at some nonsense verse.
More nonsense? I had to leave, otherwise I’d curse.

So, if I should die, think only this of me
I tried my best to write some decent poetry
If, with all that going on, you could pen a beautiful something,
You’re a better man than I am Gunga Din.