"If I do a poetry reading I want people to walk out and say they feel better for having been there - not because you've done a comedy performance but because you're talking about your father dying or having young children, things that touch your soul"

This quote by Roger McGough speaks to the power of poetry and its capability to touch people's souls. He is suggesting that when he does a poetry reading, he wants individuals to leave feeling much better for having actually been there. He wishes to stimulate feeling in his audience, not through comedy, but through more meaningful topics such as death and being a parent. He wishes to produce an atmosphere of understanding and connection, where individuals can relate to his words and feel a sense of comfort and solace. McGough's words remind us of the power of poetry and its capability to bring people together and create a sense of understanding and empathy. His words also advise us of the value of being able to express our emotions and experiences through poetry, and how it can be a powerful tool for healing and connection.