I watched an interview with Clive James on Monday 6 August on ABC TV(Talking Heads: 6:30-7:00 p.m.) and, although I am not in the same league as James, his words made a lot of sense to me--a retired teacher, fill-time writer-poet and early entrant to the sexuagenarian category of the life-span. I have been indebted to James since I discovered his serious side several years ago on a books and writing program.

Two things struck me. The first thing was his words about the writing process. They were different ones than I had in my file on James from 1988. But the message was similar:

The deep, awkward, usually unspoken fact, but no secret, is that artists are motivated mainly by love of what they do. They live to work. Most people work to live.-Ron Price, with thanks to Clive James, Observer Magazine, 28 August 1988.

The second thing requires me to dedicate the following prose-poem to dear Clive James who admits to being a poor father and husband. I thank him for his humour and honesty--and of course his liberal values:

I live to work, that