Life is a Rollercoaster

John's latest collection of poems is a profound exploration of the human spirit, capturing the raw and unfiltered emotions of love, loss, war, and peace. This powerful anthology invites you to reflect deeply on the meaning of existence, guiding you through the highs and lows of the human experience. Feel the heartbreak of loss and the bitterness of conflict yet find solace in love and the fragile peace that follows. Through it all, the unwavering theme of resilience shines, reminding us of our capacity to endure and overcome.

These poems don't just echo universal truths; they also bear witness to specific moments in history, including the harrowing brutality of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. John's work is a poignant record of contemporary struggles, championing a more inclusive and compassionate world. With his distinct voice, John captures the essence of humanity in all its complexity, ensuring these poems will resonate far beyond our time.

Some of these poems are also songs. To hear (and see music videos) of some of the songs readers can scan the accompanying QR codes.

Here are a few verses from a couple of poems to give a flavour of the collection:

WOW, WOW, SHE LOVES ME

When I first saw you, I was making a pitch.

Your kind of look, it made me twitch.

I don't know what it's all about,

I only know I want to sing and shout.

You came over, looked me in the eye.

I felt queasy, thought I might die.

You said, 'Boy, you're the one I'm looking for.'

Next thing I knew, I was on the floor.

I thought:

Wow, wow, she loves me!

Wow, wow, I'm on a jet ski!

Wow, wow, oh god, she met me -

Wow, wow, it's my destiny.

THE PEACE DIVIDEND

Instead of paying for guns and bombs,

For mass graves and family tombs,

Put the money to housing and schools

So children won't use guns, only tools.

No arms to buy, no soldiers to kill,

Use the money for those who are ill.

Put the metal into cars,

The fuel to power rockets to Mars.

Save the explosions for Bonfire Night

Instead of blowing things up as you fight.

Put the nuclear threat to good use

For shrinking tumours, not nuclear truce.

In place of the men going into battle,

Let them come home and raise our cattle;

Instead of fighting to be free,

Fighting for our place in industry.

Take your wars out to the fields -

Bats and balls alone to wield.

Then you can feel that you've just won

Without ever firing a missile or gun.

John Eaton is a poet and song writer, also a nurse and care home manager. He lives and works in Taunton, Somerset. He has always had an affinity with the English language. Space and time created by the pandemic provided him with the opportunity to create. John is passionate about encouraging literacy and a love of the English language.

When John left school, he didn't know what, if anything, he might be good at. As one of eight children growing up on a council estate, he didn't aspire to a higher purpose. However, working in a psychiatric hospital and qualifying as a Mental Health Nurse (RMN), then as a Registered General Nurse (RGN), led him overseas. He went on to establish a successful healthcare training business and, subsequently, a growing care home in Somerset. His work is inspired by the people, punishment, pathos, and humorous proclamations he encounters in his day job.

John's first anthology of poems, Thoughts from a Faraway Place (Austin Macauley) was published in 2021. Thus far, John has also written and produced more than a dozen Spid the Spider books for children, and three accompanying albums, as well as many songs supporting the Ukrainian relief effort, including the album, Under Ukrainian Skies. The music was mostly composed by Pete Dymond, Dymond Studios. Listen to musical versions of John's work at https:// soundcloud.com/john-eaton-205933369 and on all good streaming services