Signpost from Home
by Gerry Mannion

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$15.00 plus postage

56 pages, 14.85 x 21cm

I grew up on a small farm in the west of Ireland, a mile or so outside the town of Loughrea in county Galway. You always hear everyone talking of their idyllic childhood and the good old days, but were they? Looking back now, they were, but at the time did I really think so, probably not.

They talk now of FOMO (fear of missing out) and maybe in hindsight that was what I was suffering from, being outside the town I always seemed to think I was missing out on something but wasn’t really.

Those early fears seemed to carry over into later life when in my early twenties I had a case of itchy feet and decided to emigrate to Australia. I have now been here, a proud Australian citizen for more than half my life but there is always a strong connection to home which is a recurring theme in my poetry.

I discovered, or more correctly rediscovered a love of poetry in the last few years, a bit like the memories of the idyllic childhood and the good old days, it was always there but I just didn’t realise it. Way back then, in school, learning poetry by rote, because we had to, didn’t seem too appealing to me and I was just a ‘scrape through’ student who didn’t excel, but I think the seed must have been well and truly sown.

I only realised recently that I had kept among my belongings when I emigrated, a rather sad looking, dog eared, tattered copy of my poetry textbook from back in the day, but which I thoroughly treasure today.

And then a few years ago when I discovered this ‘Australian Bush Poetry’ – with its rhyme and meter – the love affair began. So, I decided to string together some of my thoughts and memories and also recent events in poetic format not just for mine and your pleasure, but most of all for anyone who cares to read these words now or in the future.

I would like to thank my wife Michelle for putting up with me during this creative process, for recording my performances and providing constructive feedback, for listening and also for her enthusiasm, encouragement and ongoing love throughout this process. ...

I’m grateful to Rob at www.design-print-online for his sound and practical advice getting my book to publication.