The poetry in this site represents the record of one year in my life. One dramatic and eventful year. Some people may keep a diary of such a time, but for some inane reason, I developed a habit of writing a poem to capture each week of the year. They are grouped by emotion, and not presented in chronological order. There is no reason for this other than I thought it easier to index. By publishing this journal, I feel I have cast away the year that was so difficult to live. I do so in the hope that anyone else who is going through such a time, may realise that they are not alone in their confusion. We all have 'one of those years' at sometime. Hopefully this poetic record will allow you into my mind as it was back then.
My name is Derek, 45 years old and lost somewhere between 16 and 66 in my mental capacity and outlook and approach to life. I am an Australian, a businessman, poet, musician, unpublished author, traveller, dreamer, ratbag, demon, saint, recluse, extrovert and just probably, simply a normal man. I am also now, after some adjustments, once again settled, happy and living in relatively low level turmoil and in love again.
I am now on a new journey to desert and biblical lands as yet unseen by me. To continue to live what can only be described as an orthodox unorthodox life.
Derek Haines 2nd March 2001
