THE PSYCHY POET ~ Episode 1: Romance

THE PSYCHY POET

A published poet with 13 books to his name, Laurie Wilkinson, AKA The Psychy Poet, waxes lyrical with poems from the first of his themes of Romance, Humour, Reflection, and Tragedy. Interviewed by Mike Page of Megatrend Media, Laurie reminisces about his life, beginning with his childhood in Walthamstow, East London, during the post-WW2 years. He remembers his parents affectionately as being very happy, supportive and making jokes despite being relatively poor -- the "bathroom" was a tin tub hanging on a nail in the garden! With a firm belief that we are products of our environment and experiences, Laurie reflects on how his past has influenced a relatively recent embarkation of poetry writing.
From working in London's east end at only fifteen amongst the biting wit and humour to the tragic death at only thirty-four of his beloved sister Doreen when he was twenty-six, his life had already polarised. Laurie did, though, regale some of his workmates with "little rhyming ditties" that they might not have appreciated personally but greatly amused the other workers! One such little rhyme apparently rendered the recipient almost mute with incandescent rage, apart from the foulest of language! "Fortunately, I was not there at the time, as I possibly might not be writing this now!"
A successful career in mental health followed, working as a ward manager and in a secure forensic unit, then as a senior psychiatric nurse visiting Kent area prisons. The ability to talk to distressed, disturbed people was paramount. In 2001 I obtained a degree in Psychiatry, allowing me to do Private Lecturing on many related subjects.
Diverse emotions met in these experiences reflect in my poems. Laurie has travelled extensively in Africa, Australia and touring South America, the Amazon, and Asia. He was particularly moved by seeing Nelson Mandela's cell on Robben Island and visiting the impoverished township of Soweto!
Laurie is a long-term supporter of the amazing armed forces charity, Help for Heroes. Sales of his books and fund-raising events has helped amplify awareness of the charity and led to some healthy donations. As is says on the Help for Heroes website, "When a conflict ends, for some the battles don’t stop. We support veterans and their families by giving life-changing support, no matter when or where they served."
For more information about Laurie Wilkinson and his work visit thepsychypoet.com

Produced by Mike Page - Megatrend Media
(c) 2023 Megatrend Media Ltd.