Richard Doiron
Biography

I was first published in a letter to the Editor in early 1964. It was a spontaneous letter. It was also long and memorable. Out of school two years already, with only a Grade 8 education, the bulk of which came from a one-room schoolhouse, and in French, some questioned how it had been possible to write in English, as I had done. I never did, nor would I ever question what I could only refer to as a “gift.”

As an adult I took upgrading for eight months, followed by earning a certificate in journalism. Thirty-five years have now elapsed since that period, and my pen has never run dry.

In 1978 I had my first book of poetry published, that being a single poem, written while on a train, as a stream of consciousness. My second book of poetry made it into print in 1990. A third was published in 1999, and a fourth followed in 2002. The two last books were nominated for the Governor General's Award, the last also for the Griffin Poetry Prize.

Overall, my poetry has been published a few hundred times. One of my poems appears in the world book, “Prayers for a thousand years,” by invitation, alongside work by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, as well as many other Nobel Peace Prize Winners, among them Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu.

On New Year's 2000 one of my poems was read at the United Nations University for Peace, in Costa Rica. In 1993, some of my work was read at the 4 th World Congress of Poetry & Cultures, in San Francisco. I have since read at an International Literary Festival, as well as a National Literary Festival. I have twice been invited to attend a Middle East Poetry Festival in Lebanon.

I have since read at two International Literary Festivals, as well as a National Literary Festival. I have twice been invited to attend a Middle East Poetry Festival in Lebanon.

I continue to attempt to organize my “body of work,” which consists of some 20,000 + poems (my sonnets alone now number over 5000). My themes have been consistent: peace, love, and spirituality. I also write a lot of philosophical poetry as well as earth-based poetry. I write practically every known form and have even invented a couple of my own.

In recent times I have had the distinct privilege of meeting outstanding poets, among them New Brunswick's own Carol Knepper, now embarked on a second career, that of author, following 32 years of teaching English.

Carol's writing is lyrical, natural, with distinctly spiritual overtones. She and I share a powerful belief that the world needs all the love, peace, and spiritual enlightenment possible. As such it is our hope to help make our world a better place.

Peace is the only answer, but peace implies many things, among them justice and education. Peace can only come to the masses when individuals have it as their experience first. We need gentleness, cooperation, loving-kindness, and the unwavering desire to truly move forward as a collective.

I consider myself an eclectic thinker, someone who believes there is validity found in myriad systems. I especially believe in alternative healing methods. A student of Reiki for some time, I was recently given the title of Reiki Master, something I look forward to exploring further. Should anyone be interested in learning more on this topic, please view the site of Reiki Master/Teacher Bruce Whittier at: http://www.mindbodyspiritcanada.com/bruce.php

To those who may chance to read this, I offer what I consider to be a truly gentle poem: