How did this project come about?
Tim
Unknown to myself, Malachi had the idea of using my cartoons to illustrate his book long before suggesting it to me. Initially he asked me if I would have a go at illustrating a few poems and I took up the challenge. However, what started as a few random poems in early 2025 turned into an avalanche and then talk of an illustrated book emerged.
Malachi
We are both lifelong members of Armagh Theatre Group (ATG) and have previously co written sketches for Policing & Community Safety Partnership and ABC Council called ‘What’s my Scam’. A series of information sketches highlighting to senior citizens how to spot a scam and what action to take.
After Byddi Lee, well known Armagh writer, joined ATG 10 years ago we formed a writing trio aimed mainly at writing plays for the Group. Our first major success was ‘Impact’ a two act play depicting events around the 1889 rail disaster in Armagh that killed 90 and injured 100’s.
During the Covid pandemic we wrote three plays, and they were performed live on zoom by ATG members in various locations in Northern Ireland and London. Zoomeo &Juliet; Social Bubble ,Toil &Trouble and Six Angry Women. We think we were the only non professional drama group to achieve this and in doing so captured a worldwide audience. In 2024 we co -wrote ‘Christmas Lights (Bah Humbug), an adult Christmas panto, performed in our own Abbey Lane Theatre e Armagh.
Throughout this time individually we had our own projects. Byddi wrote ‘Toxic Relationships’ , Tim honed his hand at drawing comic sketches and I continued to write poetry.
Last January I reached the grand age of 70 and to mark this I wanted to publish my poetry written over the last 50 yrs.
What are the key ideas and themes explored in the collection?
Malachi
Family; life; love and loss; with a good sprinkling of humorous observations. Life and all it’s bumps. I also touch on Age and loneliness; Wars and humanity; Covid; Nature and
Disabilities and depression. Politics really. Like I said ..all the bumps.
Why a partnership between a poet and an illustrator?
Tim
The thing that took some time to realise was that Malachi’s vision of “his poems” being illustrated were not necessarily the same as my interpretations! Initially I wanted to please Malachi because after all these were his poems and his boo; his very own personal thoughts being laid bare for all to read. What we hadn’t appreciated was the fact that the two art forms, the written word and the visual, could stand alone but at the same time would actually complement each other. So, partnership in spirit but two interpretations – word and image – for the price of one!
Malachi
I always wanted to illustrate my poems and did chat with several other illustrators. When Tim revealed his artistic pastime with drawings framed about his house I knew I’d ‘got my man’. So, we started in February 2025 with this format of poem/illustration. Tim has a similar taste for humour and has developed his artistic talent to compliment both the humour and sincerity in my poems.
Is there an artistic dialogue between the two mediums and if so how was that dialogue developed?
Malachi
All poetry should create images in the reader’s mind. The strongest image should be the initial impulse to write a particular poem, the message. Tim has the natural artistic knack to identify this in his illustrations.
Tim
From the illustrator’s point of view, I am really no different to anyone else reading Malachi’s poems and interpreting what they mean. Then I have to decide how to project that meaning by way of one specific image. I’ll not say it works all the time but some “hit the mark!” So yes there is a dialogue but probably unspoken if that makes sense?
Is this the first collaboration and if so is there likely to be future collaborations?
Malachi.
Yes ,it is quite possible we will see a follow up from ‘The Unknown Poet’. Now not so unknown. The next collection has a working title ‘Baldy Notions’
Tim
Who knows but there are an awful lot of unused poems and images lying on the “cutting room floor!”
The book can be purchased at the link below
