If I talk about what I'm good at, I seem like I'm a conceited egomaniac.

Remember this son, if you forget everything else. A poet is a musician who can't sing. Words have to find a man's mind before they can touch his heart. And, some men's minds are woeful small targets. Music touches their hearts directly, no matter how small or stubborn the mind of the man who listens.

Congratulations. That was the stupidest thing I've ever seen. Ever.

If I could sum it up in 50 words, I wouldn't have needed to write a whole novel about it.

One of them had a large wooden sign nailed to its door proclaiming, NO SYMPATHY! I wondered what non-arcane visitors might think of the warning.

All stories are true,” Skarpi said. “But this one really happened, if that’s what you mean.” He took another slow drink, then smiled again, his bright eyes dancing. “More or less. You have to be a bit of a liar to tell a story the right way. Too much truth confuses the facts. Too much honesty makes you sound insincere.

Beer dulls a memory, brand sets it burning, but wine is the best for a sore heart's yearning.