The 60 poems in Lucilla Maclaren Spillane’s collection are written with a keen eye for detail and draw on her wide range of experiences in several countries. Some of the poems deal with disabilities, including the author’s own epilepsy.

“I hope that my poems will provoke thought on the broader implications of disability, on the way others respond to it, and the effect it can have on a person’s life and that of their relatives and friends,” says Lucilla. “In poetry we can put into words our most acute thoughts and feelings and can express them in a concise form. There are many people who sincerely believe they will never enjoy poetry and I hope that, in publishing this collection, I may be able to enlighten them and help them to recognize, appreciate and enjoy what I regard as true poetry.”

Lucilla Maclaren Spillane was born in Oxford, England, of Scottish parentage and now lives in Malta and Ireland. Her poetry has been described as “simple, effective and sometimes extremely beautiful”. Her poem, A Child in Freedom Square, won first prize in the 2009 Petersham Festival Poetry competition. Another Seeing is her first book of poetry.

Written in traditional form and with an ear for harmony, her poems are memorable and easy to read. They range from the deep understanding she shows in Another Seeing for the child and the blind man depicted on the cover of the book, through the beauty of The Lake in Wisconsin, The Fountain in Oxford and Street Lamps in Malta to the stark humanity of The Beggar, The Widow and A Lonely New Year. Lift Off re-creates the tension of a Space Shuttle launch; Dragon reveals the secret fears of a child with epilepsy; No Time to Die the redemption of an alcoholic; Sunday Bells the frustrations of the writing process; while Haggis Night vividly depicts the fabled Hogmanay Hunt for Haggis in the Highlands of Scotland.

The notes to the poems contained within this volume give added depth and interest to the poems, explaining how and where they were inspired and what it was that prompted her to write each of them. The afterword explores her influences, philosophy and beliefs with regard to poetry.