Poetry is an integral part of our lives; jingles, nursery rhymes, limericks, folk songs, pop songs, chants, hymns, prayers, anthems, operas... all of this is poetry, including carefully crafted prose which expresses higher thoughts with poetic quality. Poetry is an art form; a compact language of carefully crafted shorthand, and equally carefully chosen words and phrases. It has the capacity to evoke, express and communicate thoughts, imaginings, emotions, feelings, yearnings and longings; stating or implying meanings or giving
heightened emphasis. It is also a way of thinking, of imagery, of noticing the minutiae amongst the everyday, the mundane, the wonderful and the miraculous. It becomes a way of looking at life and beyond. Writing is crafting; choosing the form which best suits the mood, by use of language, cadences, rhythms, rhymes, assonance, alliteration and onomatopoeia. Poetry can be private, personal. Intimate, or explicitly composed for a wider audience, sharing joy or sorrow, delight or disgust.
This collection is an exploration of the personal possibilities of poetry written over a lifetime.