Of the two of us, Suzanne is the better poet, but she writes for herself, to express her own thoughts and not for general consumption; perhaps one of the best motivations for writing poetry. I am somewhat more incontinent in my efforts and less gifted.

Recently, I have been reading up on the Sicilian School of poetry, headed up by Giacomo da Lentini and including such notable names as Cielo d’Alcamo, often known locally as Ciullo. The School, a title appended by scholars, was a literary movement that used the vernacular language rather than turning to other models such as the Provençal of the troubadours.