Working on a collection of poetry, I find that I must also consider the issue of repetition. For example, a line may work well in more than one poem, but it must be sacrificed in all other instances (regardless of whether it is differently expressed) in order to preserve its impact (in that instance where it is best used) within the collection as a whole.

Allow me to return momentarily to the “completed” poem, “Sunbird!”. In its opening line, I am still vacillating between two variations, the only difference being an adjective: “A marvellous/dazzling little malachite…” Both have advantages and disadvantages: the former is alliterative but not evocative; the latter, vice versa. (Then, depending on my choice, there are its implications on the rest of the poem to consider.) I have, for the time being, postponed making a final decision, as I want to continue work on “To a Swallow”, but what a wonderful torment it all is!

It has been two weeks since I worked on the “To a Swallow” verses, commandeered by an earlier completed poem, “Sunbird!”. I had doubts about certain aspects of the latter, which I believe I have resolved. I return now to “To a Swallow”, for the most part, unhindered by those concerns.