A poet who spent his youth in Tandragee has published a collection of poems detailing his childhood experiences during The Troubles.
Entitled ‘A Twelve Point Plan to Improve Irish Happiness’ the collection is written by Arun Sharma who now lives in Bristol, UK.
Growing up in Tandragee during the 80s and 90s, Arun bore witness to the ebb and flow of parochial life in county Armagh and the surrounding areas.
His poems can often interweave the rich history of the lands, as well as more than a passing understanding of the myths which lay deeper still in the psyche of some inhabitants.
As school days turned to nightlife escapism, and as rural monotony spewed forth unique characters – and at times monsters – everything was gazed upon with an unbiased eye which eventually led to this collection of poems which is at once a memoir, a wake up call, and a nell.
Exploring the dichotomies present in both society and the self, this collection hums with energy and life while never shying away from the darker realities of the world.
Inspired by observations gathered over the course of a childhood growing up during The Troubles – a period marked by conflict, turmoil, and inspiring stories of human courage – while also possessing the status of an outsider himself, each piece is witty, shot through with the poet’s trademark gallows humour and is
often profoundly tragic.
Verse as likely to raise a wry smile as it is to have you contemplating the sheer hideous stupidity and pettiness of humankind.
A Twelve Point Plan to Improve Irish Happiness captures the complexities of human nature and society, offering a poignant reflection on the absurdities and tragedies that define our existence.
Most read today
LIR Construction
