Ref. 72555-10POET Tony Hillier has some simple advice for aspiring wordsmiths.

"You are the boss and if you think it's right it is.

"When you finish reading this article pick up a pen and get writing."

Today is National Poetry Day and the theme for this year is food.

Across the country poets, from amateurs to the Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion, will be spreading the power of the verse.

Tony, 53, of Old Walcot, stresses the only qualification needed to write meaningful poetry is a questioning mind.

He certainly chose the right place when he visited the Advertiser newsroom this week.

"Poems are merely stories and the Evening Advertiser itself was packed with inspira-tion," said Tony.

"On the walls were old newspapers showing the big stories of yesterday. This served as a reminder to the team of Adver reporters to bring in today's news adding to the extremely pressurised environment.

"I chatted with the reporters and it was clear that they work really hard.

"Together, we wrote a couple of poems or word bunches as I prefer to call them."

Tony, a teacher by profession, first took to poetry as a teenager.

Yesterday afternoon he dropped into Greendown School for a poetry session.

He said: "I was young and full of angst like these people. I found poetry to be very therapeutic. It's a great way of getting things off your chest."

That visit was followed by a food-themed poetry reading at North Swindon Library last night.

Until recently, Tony worked at New College where he taught basic learning skills to adults. That was a haven for ideas.

"Everyone has a poetic gem in them and a story to tell you do not have to be an academic," he said.

"If you pick the words that seem right to you they will last forever."

You can catch Tony and fellow poet Matt Harvey at Lower Shaw Farm in West Swindon tonight for a poetry and food evening. The event starts at 7pm and the cost is £10. For further information call 01793 771080.

Why not get your creative juices flowing? We are inviting you to compose a limerick about the Advertiser and what it means to you. Send them by post to the editor at the Evening Advertiser, 100 Victoria Road, Swindon, SN1 3BE or by email to editor@newswilts.co.uk.