KEVIN EBERHARDT: Initially, the only reason I used my initials was partly due to laziness and partly due to the fact I sound too pompous writing (or saying) my own name. Years ago I submitted to a poetry contest. Didn't win but got to hear my poem read on a cassette tape by a voice that sounded straight out of a soap opera. After reading my poem the voice said, "These are the words of Kevin Eberhardt." Made me cringe, I tell you. But you can use either / or.

I like to call my poetry 'poetry primitive', stolen from guitarist John Fahey's 'primitive guitar' style of playing. My poetry comes from the uneducated side of life. Never went to college but have been writing since high school (I am now 52 years old). I can't stop myself. That's why I haven't really made any concerted effort to publish. Only ever wrote for myself. 'Meeting' Steve (Smith, but you knew that, right?), as it were, helped me overcome this. I still won't read in public. Still hear those words echoing in my head, "These are the words of..."

WENDY SHAFFER: wendy shaffer is a poet & secretary from cleveland, ohio. she has 17 cats & 2 dogs. You can find more of her poetry on her blog, "house of cats", at http://poetjungle.blogsome.com