John Paul is a poet, photographer and writer living in the City of Liverpool and has written 20 books and collaborations including the well known anthology of poetry “In Violet” and and is the official biographer of two Italian saints: Clare of Assisi and Gemma Galgani of Lucca. 

Studying in the 1970’s at the Laird School of Art in Merseyside led to a long career as a photographer firstly in forensics (yes the scary stuff of “Silent Witness”) then general phototography and film making. John Paul also spent twelve years on Kensington Palace’s royal photographic rota with Her Royal Highness Diana - Princess of Wales and over the years has featured on television, radio and as a real life character in Blake Morrisons book of stories "Too True"

Poem of the Moment 

Hiroshima 

Looking up to a clear bleached sky I can see 

 the grey and black atomic human shadows

 blast etched by intense heat and light

 onto the white washed walls of Hiroshima 

 the negative stains of mass destruction

 The quietness of the park today is in harmony 

 with the gently distant resonating bell

 tolled from dawn to dusk by those who yearn for peace

 a small group of school children run up to my bench

 and place in my hands their gathered flowers