Steve Shaw: "Well I found Dylan's "poetry" to be dense, exclusive and obscurantist. To me, poetry should be crystallising notions that I can't articulate clearly for myself, that are inchoate in my mind. Happy, sad, tragic, life-affirming, anything. But making me focus, providing an illuminating spark. Dylan's lyrics are nothing like that."

I do kind of agree. I prefer poetry that is simple and easy to understand, yet is still able to put into words our deepest human experiences and emotions.

And yet, some of Dylan's poetry (not all!) does have a special rhythmic resonance. It's as though he's writing a melody just by using words. Like building a magic castle out of Lego bricks.

He's not a particularly talented singer. But on balance, I'd say that he deserves his Nobel Prize, for the (often obscure) genius of his wordcraft.