Ifor Thomas was born in West Wales, now out of Cardiff. His credo
is that poetry is best heard in a live performance and he has been doing
so the last couple of decades. Once of the extreme poetry with props -
chainsaw, clingfilm, resuscitation doll, lavatory pan, etc. - he now has
a more pared-down approach. His publications include Unsafe Sex
(Parthian, 1999) and Bogwiser (Redsharks Press,1991).






The Kiss

I knew something was wrong
when I kissed you that afternoon,
not the coldness of your forehead - we all get cold
nor its smoothness - your skin was always good

It was, I think, the fact that you let me kiss you at all
you always turned away from such shows of affection

Death has certainly changed you.








What to Say When Criticising Poetry
(like this poem)


The title's good
(I can't think of anything to say about this poem)
Can you read it again?
(give me time please to think of something to say)
It's too long
(never it's too short)
Lose the last line
(and the rest of it for all I care)
The idea behind the poem is better than the poem itself
(although that's not saying much)
I like your new approach to language
(are you dyslexic?)
Some of your images are truly memorable
(whose poem have you ripped off?)
Isn't this two poems in one?
(it's a mish mash)
I need to read this on the page
(It's too dense, like the poet)
You read your poetry really well
(but you write like an arsehole)
Have you thought about your audience?
(this poem is therapy - see a psychiatrist)
You could place this somewhere
(like the bin)
It's a new approach to an old theme
(it's a clichéd mess)
It's a good performance piece
(it's crap.)
Have you thought about putting the last line first?
(like this poem)