Poet hopes kind words will change the world for good
AGIFTED poet has written more than 800 poems in the hope to give readers solace and inspire people to be kind.
Phil, also fondly known as Phil ‘Osopher’ Thomas, puts pen to paper at least once a week to write poems about his life experiences and uses poetry to make sense of the world around him.
The 60-year-old, who has bipolar disorder and has been experiencing mental health difficulties for 30 years, has written 860 poems over the last five years to connect with the others in the hope that he can inspire them to do good.
Phil said: “I began writing things down to make sense of the confusion and when I wrote the confusion lifted.
“Poetry can help to communicate with others, which is the key to life, and communicating with people’s spirit is important, and I am certain that it’ll change the world for good.
“I believe in myself so I can have others believe in themselves too and I have done the utmost to ensure people don’t go through pain that I went through.
“A girl told me that my poems are very deep and simple and she said it is the only thing she has understood in her life.”
Phil stays at Birch Hill Hospital’s Prospect Place, a unit for men that have enduring mental health difficulties, where he was referred to from hospital in his home town Liverpool five years ago.
The talented writer, whose psychologist gave his nickname as he writes poems, began writing poetry 35 years ago and likes to keep his work simple so that everyone can enjoy and understand his words.
Phil’s poetry mentions his resilience when people have been unkind to him and explore his emotions and his journey to self-discovery.
Poems he has written include; Professional Lunatic, Positive Energy, Beautiful Juices, Mysteries of Life and No More Mountains.
Phil, who hopes to have his poetry published as a book one day, continued: “All of my poems are to show people that they can have a happy life if they are nice and my poems are not for me but for others to help them.
“The staff at Prospect Place are overjoyed and encouraged me to continue with my poems.
“Poetry comes through my spirit and I can write a poem in five minutes.
“People I knew had caused a lot of mental pain for me and I used to not be able to sleep over what people would say about me but poetry makes me feel content.”
Stephen Headley, Mental Health Nursing Assistant at Prospect Place, said: “I have known Phil for over five years, and his journey has truly been one of enlightenment, as he agrees that he is a changed man, based on the life events, but also compared to when he arrived.
“The one thing that has not changed is his strong passion to write poetry and sing, and this was evident from day one when he was first admitted to Prospect Place.
“Anyone can be affected by mental health challenges, and its easy to judge, however if time is taken to understand the path that has been travelled, along with the trauma experienced, the impact becomes clearer.
“Let’s not judge the books by the covers, lets understand, and not forget the friends and family, person centred approach, as this is exactly what you or I would expect to receive.
“It continues to be a pleasure working with Phil.”
A collection of Phil’s poems can be found on the All Poetry website https://allpoetry.com/ that came my way,
But with mental bullies,
I didn’t know what to do, or what to say,
I’ve learnt every lesson I’ve ever had,
Most of my life I was very sad,
It’s been long now since I was afraid,
And all this time I realised I’ve been brave,
There was a massive goal I had to find,
And now no one can mess with my mind,
I took all of my wisdom, To beat the system, Now nothing bothers me,
Because free.
I am absolutely