In It’s Poetry, You See, J D Milaric takes a sideways look at facets of life in modern Britain, drawing inspiration from his personal experiences.
His latest collection reflects his journey since he began writing after retiring in 2010 due to a cardiac condition.
The writer, who published his book of essays A Shift in Paradigm in 2013 and Life Is Poetic in 2016, says his love for poetry intensified following the loss of his wife to pancreatic cancer in 2020.
Mr Milaric said: “As a poet, I endeavour to write in rhymes about life in our times.
“The poems cover various facets of living in 21st-century Great Britain, lives, in many cases, as per my experiences, written since my first book of poetry was published in 2016.”
Themes in It’s Poetry, You See include climate change, hatred and violence, the impact of the digital and AI revolution, the need for social care due to increased lifespan, and embedded racism.
Despite the weighty topics, he likes a joke.
Mr Milaric said: “I often use humour to convey my thoughts, hence there are a considerable number of poems in the humour section.
“Humour has provided me with, and continues to do so, great succour as a widower.”
Despite his personal challenges, including a debilitating cardiac condition and early retirement due to ill-health, Mr Milaric continues to find solace in his writing.
He said: “I was fortunate, and still am, to be able to express my emotions and views about life via poetry.”
A former independent financial adviser, Mr Milaric began writing after retiring in 2010.
He has always been interested in current affairs and is passionate about the issues affecting people’s lives today.
A regular letter writer to the Harrow Times, he enjoys writing books, essays, and jokes.
The poet’s family, including his two sons, daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren, play a significant role in his life and his writing. He credits his current partner, Hilary, as a source of inspiration, not just for his writing, but life in general.
Mr Milaric says he will donate half of his royalties to charity.
The book is available to purchase as a paperback or can be downloaded as a Kindle eBook from Amazon. He said: “I will donate 50 per cent to each of the worthy causes, as the beneficiaries referred to in the book.”
