Lorraine McGuigan

I am 80, widowed with 6 children, 12 grandchildren Initially a modestly successful short story writer, I came to poetry in a strange and mysterious way. Late one night as my toddler granddaughter was in hospital with suspected meningitis, I stayed home minding her sister, and hearing no news became increasingly anxious. Although I'd recently started reading poetry, it seemed that I could never write in such a compressed form. It looked too hard!

Unable to settle, I found a pen and began writing, what I had no idea. Words gathered on the page. All about my dead mother, of all people. A week later I took this scrappy writing to my Short Story Group, two of whom were established poets. The first simply scanned my work and said, 'Keep on with the stories, Lorraine. The second poet was so enthusiastic: 'This is a poem, you must develop it.'

But how? She introduced me to Kathryn Purnell, a Canadian poet of some repute. I joined her group and learned so much, as indeed I would when a member of Aileen Kelly's group. Poetry, either reading or writing it, is a joy. It was a comfort during the days of my beloved husband's illness and subsequent death.

Writing takes me to another place,as many writers have said, and I give thanks for that.

On another level, poetry brings me a modest income, and with it the knowledge that my work has some value 'out there'and is not simply, 'mother's hobby'. I have judged and co-judged The Martha Richardson Poetry Medal, and several

Society of Women Writers Poetry Competitions,also The FAW Anne Elder.

I have been a Featured Reader at several Regional Poetry Festivals,and for many years have run poetry workshops. I am also a poetry ms assessor.

To my continuing surprise awards for my poems number about 70. My poems have appeared in numerous anthologies, the most recent being 'Motherlode: Australian Women's Poetry 1986-2008,'Puncher & Wattman 2009). 'What the Body Remembers'(Five Islands Press 2003) my first collection, came second in the 2004 Anne Elder Award. That certainly encouraged me to keep going! As did my husband, no devotee of poetry, but he did enjoy driving me to poetry gigs and afterwards telling me frankly how I'd performed. Much appreciated objective feedback. Bless him.