h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A friend of mine - though now I wonder - said, 'You really must visit this place.'

She said, 'It's a place where wonderful smart people will comment on your, um, more 'experimental poetry.'

And she said, 'And there's something called the Edited Guide where there is no poetry, experimental or otherwise, but where there you will find worlds of entertaining and interesting information coloured by the experiences of the very readers and writers who populate this place.'

So I came to visit. I signed up as though joining the Illuminati. Or the Toastmasters. Or the Foreign Legion. I wandered, virtually, around in search of a critical audience for my adventures in literary exploration. And in search of this mysterious and alluring Edited Guide.

I found the Front Page. Ah ha! A list of 'today's brand new additions to the Edited Guide,' it read.

One was about Henry VIII and one was about John Brown - an eclectic range indeed - and, just as my friend had claimed, both were very informative. But entertaining? Coloured by experience? Maybe, if the experience was a session with the Encyclopaedia Britannica.

I felt let down. And a little disappointed, if truth be told, by my friend's misplaced enthusiasm.

I must have missed something. Back to the Front Page.

'...if you fancy writing something for the Edited Guide, click the menu option for Peer Review to find out how,' it said. I clicked. I read. And read. And read and read and... Finally, I arrived at a list of 'the most recent entries submitted for review.'

There was something called 'FOSH' which was ridiculous.

There was something - not someone, something - called Ewan McGregor. It was childish. Not in a touching, endearing way. In a sadly simple-minded way.

There was something called Dating Women. It was even more childish - in an even less endearing way - and, if I were to take it even a little bit seriously, rude and offensive.

A friend of mine - though now I sincerely wonder - said, 'You really must visit this place.'

I have. But, oh, what dreadful thing is this?

Terribilis est locus iste - Et in Arcadia ego.

Not good at experimental poetry, I'm afraid - more experimental nonsense verse, but don't give up yet. There's sure to be something you'll enjoy.

Quam terribilis inquit est locus iste?

Not a terrible place at all. I shall simply avoid the Edited Guide as though it were the Plague.

Thank you for the encouragement!

poe(tique)

Et in Fantasia ego.

btw... I love 'Cows With Guns'

poeti(que)

Ooh, me too!

'Leonard Cohen's Day Job' a big favourite, also 'On the Other Shore'.

Hopefully you've found the refuge that we call the UNderGuide and the AWW more to your taste

(P.S - We're forever on the look out for people willing to help make the CAC, the AWW and the UnderGuide even better. If you fancy lending a hand, feel free to drop by the CAC Continuum Personal Space. You may also like this little place:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/n2g2/

or not )

CAC Liaison (aka MJ U168592)