I have just added another poem to my posts - 'Facing life' from one of my earliest poetry books 'From Darkness to Light'. I have probably written about 1000 poems in the past 15 years or so - to be found in my website -  Click here

Up to 2006, most of my poems were written with a particular/ different patient in mind - written to help them progress out of trauma, through illness or adversity or to  cope with grief. My job as a Consultant Psychiatrist/ Psychotherapist was literally to help them through their darkest times to a future light. If they were stuck, then the different 'language' of the rhyming poem 'would often enable them to 'reach the part that other words could not reach'. My 3 children's books were all written for my grandchildren, who were at the time at different ages - from about 3 yrs to 14 yrs.

Now, having had to retire following near death in 2006 and susequent, prolonged illness, I find that my poems, though relevant for many, are increasingly from within my own experience.

It is my hope that, as I can no longer work as a psychiatrist, my therapeutic work can continue through my poems, as each one carries a message of one kind or another. It would be a waste to simply discard 35 years of work experience and knowledge. My children's poems, meant to be read to the child but not explained, are written to guide youngsters -  in a world with ever increasing pitfalls and dangers.

John Domino who reviewed my last poem commented 'your purpose may just be to continue to write to touch the lives of others, one and all' . Thank you! That is my purpose and intention - though I cannot make people read them. I think it will have to be by 'word of mouth' or via social media (which, can have positive as well as negative effects).

Audrey Coatesworth.