The composition of story based poetry comes from the depths of one’s soul while reflecting upon the human journey of life. Quite often, it is the author’s own experiences wrapped between lines of stanza and prose. Yet, and although the footprint we leave behind is considered unique in its impression, it is shared with perfect strangers who become acquaintances through poetic inscriptions.

Irish Author and Poet, Greg McVicker, was born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland, during a period of sectarian hatred and a violent, political war known as ‘The Troubles’. In his professional career as a Social Worker, Greg is unwavering in his efforts to shed light on various experiences that people have in their daily lives, both individually and collectively, but are often left to suffer in silence.

Using his distinctive style of storytelling by way of stanza and prose, Greg dives headfirst into the turbulent cycle of life. He writes unashamedly from his heart, reaching out to his readers and carrying them along the waves of an emotional tsunami. His poetic stories have and will continue to affect untold numbers of individuals throughout their lifetime.

The Book and Poetry are so special. It is a very heartwarming, disturbing, and complex view of how things were from Greg’s journey from his beloved ‘Norn Iron’ to Canada, and beyond, with great principles at work in himself, and from many others whom he met along the way. It incorporates Spiritual, Psychological, and Political Dimensions. Greg’s journey proves again, that despite cruelty, and terrible conditions, human beings can somehow get through the worst that life throws at us, with love, support, and friendship, which re-ignites ‘the Will to Live’. His Irish, Canadian, and Humanitarian Spirit looms large through his writing and his beautiful poetry. It is profound, funny, and moving. It deserves to be read carefully to the end, in a spirit of meditative reflection in order to fully appreciate the character of the man and his journey.

• Gerry Rogers. Edinburgh, Scotland.