Poetry Changes Lives: Daily Thoughts on Poetry and History by Christopher Burn

A daily page that provides a historical fact, linked to a well known poem and an inspirational thought or reflection.


Poetry and history have always gone well together: history has often been recorded in verse and much poetry has been written about historical events. The story of Troy might be long forgotten if Homer had not immortalised it in verse. And likewise, Homer himself might be forgotten if Troy had not existed.


Historical facts, even those about kings and battles, can be dry reading but adding the poet's view can bring life and insight. the Hundred Years War becomes much more interesting if studied in conjunction with Shakespeare's play King Henry V.


It seemed odd to me that although history can be written in verse, and poems can be written about history, hardly any books exist that combine both historic facts with actual poems. It became my mission to create one and Poetry Changes Lives is the result.


History's details are often more interesting to me than the main events. I would rather know Marie Antoinette's last words at the guillotine: "I am sorry Sir, I did not mean to put it there" (she trod on the executioner's foot) than the reasons for the French Revolution. But adding a poem that is in some way linked to this event adds yet another interest for me and I hope, for the reader also. Some poems have been too long to include in full and I must apologise for this. I hope that those wishing to read the full poem will be able to find it on the web or in a book without too much trouble.


The daily thought or reflection at the end of each poem is intended to help the reader to start in a positive frame of mind. I learnt the value of this in an alcohol rehab some years ago. The daily thought does not seek to promote any cause and no offence is intended to any person.

Christopher Burn trained as an accountant and has lived in London, Paris and Malta. Over a twenty year period he successfully created an economic and cultural wilderness out of a secure and pleasant lifestyle, using only a bottle of Scotch. In 1988 he helped start Castle Craig Hospital, probably the UK's largest addiction clinic, where he remains involved to this day. At various times he has been a banker, tax adviser, taxi driver, hotelier and psychotherapist. He has also written articles for boring accountancy magazines.
When the going was tough (most days except Christmas, usually far worse), he found solace and hope in poetry; this has been a lifelong obsession. It gave him the inspiration to start anew. Writing Poetry Changes Lives is his response.