by Richard 'Spike' Monro
Step into the enjoyably unfiltered world of Richard Monro, who captures the raw essence of Scottish life and language in its beauty, chaos, and complexity. From the bustling streets of Edinburgh to the quiet hardship of rural bothies, this collection unveils a tapestry of human experience that is by turns heart-wrenching, darkly comic, and deeply reflective.
In the twilight of his years, a man sits by the flickering light of memory, pen in hand, heart heavy with tales untold. This book is a vessel for his voice, a collection of poems that serve as a mosaic of his life. He recounts the days of his youth, misspent in the eyes of some, yet rich with the vibrant hues of passion and discovery. He speaks of love, not as the world dictated, but as his heart knew it—free, fierce, and unapologetically true.
His words are a testament to the struggles faced in an era less kind, a society less accepting, where the simple act of loving was an act of rebellion. Spike's is a journey through a life lived with authenticity in a world that often demanded a mask. His book is a reflection on a life that, despite its troubles, was lived with an unwavering courage to be true to oneself.
Spike has written a short collection of poems covering his gay life from teen years to Queer Elderhood. From steamy bedroom experiences as a teen in his John Donne period to his dalliances with other gay and bisexual men.
He explores themes of duplicity, yearning, lust, lost loves and regret. He lets go of his youth in the final poem Fag End.
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Richard Monro is a former drama teacher with a musical background and a seasoned and well-known Performance Poet writing in Scots and in a variety of genres, but widely known for his distinct whimsical poetry. He has performed at many festivals, in galleries, bars, at parties and functions including in the Members Room of The Scottish Parliament.
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