Q, like so many of us, the adversity of the tree shown is that of age - it's called the Wyre Oak and is estimated to be 350-400 years old. Few people even know of its existence so I try to visit regularly just to show that it's not forgotten :).

Thinking about it, I think that Guest-with-no-name does have a point about the vanity aspect. But, in my defence, I would suggest that any writer, artist, musician, dancer, sculptor or creative person in any genre is guilty of vanity in wanting an audience for what they create. In doing so, however, you immediately open yourself up to criticism as well as approbation. This is good - it's part of the creative process. As a tutor of creative writing, I tell my students that although, in the first instance, self-criticism is the most important, they must never ignore criticism from others even if, after careful consideration, they choose to dismiss it. What does get my goat a little is when criticism is anonymous.

It's always difficult for poets to get their work before an audience. It always has been: Basil Bunting, who is now acclaimed as one of the great British poets of the twentieth century, was not published for over 30 years despite being championed by T S Elliot and Ezra Pound. Nowadays, even less poetry is published and even in poetry magazines the audience is predominantly other poets. So please forgive me for posting on what is essentially a music board. In justification, I will say that I have, in the past, received comments from some 'catters that they have gained pleasure from my poetry.

No writer should really ask for more.