John Gallas
John Gallas was born in Wellington, brought up in Nelson and St Arnaud, but is at present in Coalville, Leicestershire. Seven collections published by Carcanet Press; the next, 40 Lies, coming out in July 2010. He works for the Leicestershire Behaviour Support Team in county schools. Writing at present a scientific version of The Divine Comedy.
Gallas comments: 'This tired poem is uncheerful only in the face of sublime beauty: heroic despair at approaching uselessness much occupies Mongolians. The poem was written after being weary, dazzled, transported and looking in the mirror, in that order, in Ulan Baatar.'
