What many of us find challenging in life is to reach an understanding of existence. We search around for meaning in the strangest of places. Clare O'Reilly started with words and when the poems and images came, she was grateful. Often sad and sometimes tumultuous, her poems represent snapshots of her own experience and observations. This evocative and diverse collection portrays the fragility of the human condition and our complex emotions. By sharing her insights. Clare has managed to turn some of her dreams, longings and disappointments into one big positive, finally achieving the self-empowerment she has long hoped for. In the words of Allen Ginsberg, the American poet: ‘Poetry is the one place where people can speak their original human mind. It is the outlet for people to say in public what is known in private.’ Clare’s hope for Raised on Songs and Stories is that readers will find much to absorb them, allowing reflection and understanding to continue in earnest at some distance past the final page.