After an early career in the British Army, Mark Christmas began writing poetry to reflect his thoughts and experiences. This new collection was written over a period of years, while the Iraq and Afghanistan wars were being reported by the media on the 'home front'.
For some readers, the journey through this writing will be like opening Pandora's box. For others, the poems will strike a chord of truth. The aim of the publication is to rally support for the soldiers and veterans who may be receiving little assistance despite having served their country.
This book supports The Abandoned Soldier Project (www.theabandonedsoldier.com).
After an early career in the British Army, Mark Christmas began writing poetry to reflect his thoughts and experiences. This new collection was written over a period of years, while the Iraq and Afghanistan wars were being reported by the media on the 'home front'.
In this collection of poems Mark Christmas fulfils his ambition to raise awareness of ex-service people who suffer from combat-related trauma. Many bear, "an injury not on show", some are, "psychologically busted" and have difficulties in building a, "mental baulk" against "some terrifyingly intrusive past".
His poems are powerful because he
is sparing in his use of horror and because he exercises a measured
restraint. He universalizes the experiences of war by inhabiting a
variety of personae from Diogenes: "Let him tramp the streets / embalmed
in the thoughts, / of who he is, / was, / or might be" to the telegram
boy who delivers bad news but who is still determined to enlist. He
refers to the First and Second World Wars and Northern Ireland as well
as contemporary wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Chris Kinsey – BBC Wildlife Poet of the Year 2008
Author of Kung Fu Lullabies and Swarf
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