AN 84-year-old Bridgnorth woman who is almost totally blind has had a book of 66 poems published.Katie Hill this week praised the support of her family and friends in compiling the ‘Little Book of Poetic Gems.’
Shropshire and Bridgnorth, including the Severn Valley Railway, are featured in the poems.
“I wrote a poem for the SVR called ‘The Age of Steam’ which was put on a disk so that it could be printed in a railway book,” said Katie. “That has gone all over the world.”
“I have enjoyed poetry since my schooldays when I enjoyed Longfellow and of course Wordsworth.
“The book all started when I sat up in bed and my husband asked what I was writing and I said it was poetry,” she recalled. “He asked me to read it to him.
“Since then I have written 100-plus poems, some of which have never been typed out but which are at home.
“My friends have encouraged me – they act as my eyes and write down my poems for me.
“I am registered as blind,” she said. “I have been going blind for about seven years and I can see very little now and nothing can be done about it, but everyone has been of marvellous help to me. They said why not put all the poetry together and compile a book.”
Katie, who has lived in Bridgnorth since 1958, said she was delighted to have had the book accepted by Olympia Publishers, of London. “My only son, Pete, is thrilled about it,” she said.
“The Little Book of Poetic Gems is one woman’s viewpoint constructed vividly into poetry and discusses subjects that touch us all,” said Olympia Publishers promotion and marketing executive Max Slater.
“Recollection, sentimentality, love and death are all portrayed in equal and skilful measure in a tightly-written, snappy and rhythmical collection of short, self-effacing poetry,” he added. “It will be a delight to pick up and read.”
By Melvyn Morgan
The book costs £5.99 and orders can be placed through Olympia Publishers on 0207 618 6424 (email editors@olympiapublishers.com), through Gardeners Books UK or leading bookshops.
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