Michael's a poet and now we all know it (From Warrington Guardian)

Michael's a poet and now we all know it

STAYING out of the limelight has become second nature to Michael Corroboy, who has made a 30-year career out of ghost-writing poetry for children's books.

But, at last, the 67-year-old retired works manager for the Manchester Ship Canal Company has stepped out of the shadows to put pen to paper for a national poetry competition.

And the resulting book will feature his first poem published with his 'by line' after the thousands of entrants were whittled down to just a few finalists.

And the move has prompted his local library in Padgate to host a display of his work complete with his own enchanting illustrations.

Mr Corroboy, of Rudloe Court, Padgate, started writing poetry professionally around 30 years ago.

He said: "Once I've sold the copyright to the publisher the poems are printed in compilations which the person whose name is on the cover has selected so I've no idea how many have actually been published.

"It's a great feeling though to wander into a library and spot one of your own poems in a book, especially when you happen upon it by chance."

Mr Corroboy started writing while he was at school but says that often his teachers and parents would think he had copied the work.

He adds: "They wouldn't believe I'd done it - I'd show them my poems and they'd asked me where I copied it from."

His latest poem, Conversation, which will feature in the book Body and Soul published later this year, was based on an observation of a prolonged conversation between two pensioners.

In it he substitutes the two women for crows sitting on a fence.

He adds: "I take my inspiration from people and then substitute the people for animals, adapting it for young readers."

The display features a section of around 300 unpublished poems penned by Michael.