Some of my poetry dedicated to the soldiers and civilians who have paid a high cost for conflict in their daily lives.
Paul, who is 47 years old, is originally from Belfast and has lived in Australia for 31 years.
Over the years, he has written for many groups and one of these was a Vietnam Veterans group in Sydney. He has been involved with groups from Northern Ireland including “The Simon Community” and the “Speak Your Mind” peace movement.
Paul's poems and articles have been included in Horizon magazine from Belfast since 1987; Horizon has a world wide distribution and is a monthly periodical magazine. His poetry has been read on BBC Northern Ireland and also on ABC Networks in Australia and a long list of Australian Community Radio networks.
Since 1993, Paul has been a full writer member of APRA (Australian Performing Rights Association) and and Author Full Member of CAL (Copyright Agency Limited of Australia). He was granted an award for the Best Regional Short Story in the 1995 Bauhinia Literary Awards.
A teacher of poetry in Australia to children in the Public State School as well as the Catholic schools Paul has, over the years, collected poems from children in the schools and placed them in anthologies that were given to the children to keep; a memento that he is sure will be an invaluable asset for them in the future. In fact, he is aware that one of the Anthologies may have been placed into a time capsule for future generations to view.
Universities in London and Canada are using his structures with instructions on creative writing, and theme and plot development.
Excerpt
I AM A SOLDIER
I defeat the foe.
I withstand each blow.
My armour is strong.
I make right the wrong.
Surrender or die,
I guide my sights high,
A soldier by trade,
I am not afraid,
My strength is my friend.
I fight to the end.
You can’t take from me
The word victory.
First Edition Translation of Teselas by Carmen Crespo X111 César Simón Poetry Prixe 2016 Translated from Spanish by Robin Ouzman Hislop and Amparo Arrospíde
