''Short and Sweet'' is an inspiring anthology arranged to show how the short poem, defined here as no longer than thirteen lines - and sometimes a lot shorter than that - can tell a story, present a complex argument, and be packed with as much passion, wisdom and music as any more extended piece of writing. In his witty and instructive introduction, Simon Armitage, pace-setting poet of his generation, encourages us to consider how poets over five centuries have used brevity.