General News
23 February, 2023
Poet unveils book
BOOKAAR balladeer poet Joan Mahony has released a compilation of sixteen poems and artworks, available in the Camperdown Newsagency.
BOOKAAR balladeer poet Joan Mahony has released a compilation of sixteen poems and artworks, available in the Camperdown Newsagency.
The first book of a planned series, ‘Poems for the Young at Heart’, showcases the Bookaar area and aims to spread joy and connect with people.
Ms Mahony’s poetry journey began after a heart surgery two years ago, and she spent time watching willy wagtails as she recovered.
She said that this was where her favourite poem of the book, ‘The Willy Wagtails’, came from.
“I was watching these willy wagtails while I was recovering from a heart operation, and strangely enough all this poetry has happened since I had the heart operation,” she said.
“I can’t explain why; it just seems to be really easy to write poetry.
“I do like Henry Lawson and Banjo Patterson poetry, and mine is along those lines in the balladeer poetry style.”
Ms Mahony has written over seventy poems, all of which are based on real life and experiences.
Ms Mahony aims to produce a series of poetry books, focusing on the local area, and said she hopes her poetry and art will bring a smile to people’s faces.
“What I’m looking for is a connection; if people can read the poetry and look at my illustrations, it will connect with how they feel,” she said.
“At the moment, there’s so much sadness, and children are quite anxious and worried about the future; I feel it’d be nice to have something that’s happy.
“We live in such a beautiful place; it’s nice to highlight it.”
Ms Mahony encourages budding artists and poets the “let their own thoughts be free”.
“Follow your heart, and don’t try and copy someone else to the point where you’re just imitating other ideas,” she said.
‘Poems for the Young at Heart’ will be available at the Camperdown Newsagency from Friday, Feburary 24.