Life is a one-horse town and I've got a boil on my bum.
Michael James Treacy
A retired septuagenarian, Michael James Treacy lives in idyllic bliss with Mrs Treaclechops and spends his time in literary, artistic and horticultural endeavours. He has a wonky leg, a dicky ticker and a dizzy head. A working life spanning 50 years included such disciplines as soldier, sales engineer, design engineer, estimator, buyer, quality manager and project manager. He was glad of a good sit-down at the end of it all. He’s had poems and short stories published in various magazines and anthologies, and has been working on his debut sci-fi novel for about 10 years, and hopes to finish it before his 100th birthday.

Michael James Treacy is known inside the Colony as mickleinapickle
Ripening Cherries
An anthology of Japanese-style poetry
An anthology of haiku, tanka and haibun poetry published by Offa’s Press. I have three haiku featured on page 14.
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This delightful anthology will draw you into another world, the minimalist world of Japanese poetic forms
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For Rhino in a Shrinking World
A Poetry Anthology
An international poetry anthology published by The Poets Printery of South Africa to highlight the plight of the rhino and its environment, and to raise funds for anti-poaching units. Contributions from poets worldwide. My poem, ‘When We Shot The Last Rhino’, is featured on page 84.
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The poets who have contributed to this book forcibly bring to mind the terrible plight of the rhino in the modern world.
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Soul Feathers
A poetry anthology to aid the work of Macmillan Cancer Support
Published by Indigo Dreams. Includes poetry by Carol Ann Duffy, Bob Dylan, Maya Angelou, Seamus Heaney, Sharon Olds, Leonard Cohen, Benjamin Zephaniah. My poem, ‘She Explained’, is featured on page 196.
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Soul Feathers is a book full of hope and high art which restores all faith in poetry. It is full of beautiful writing which relates directly to human experience.
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The Song of Bert and Harry: The Name of that Pub
“We went for a pub meal last night,” Bert suddenly announced. “Nice place, all done out with lights and a posh carpet. Soft music... not too loud. Polite young...
The Welsh One
. We gazed from Cardiff’s seafront as the diamond radiance of a million stars glittered in summer’s midnight. . I spoke of my soul’s breech...
Lives Well Lived
. My friend, Stan, has his 100th birthday this August. His family are arranging a birthday party and will erect two marquees to accommodate his...
She Loved Me Not
. Last night I dreamed of Samantha Who tore at my throat like a panther Then she started to chew My oesophagus too And I...
21st Century Song of Summer
It’s sobering to think that while summer is celebrated in some parts of the world with music festivals, sporting tournaments, flower shows, fringe...
In The Summertime
. In the early seventies, I had a semi-Afro hairstyle and a shaggy beard. . I thought I looked like the lead singer of Mungo...
The World Has Missed You
May 2021… COVID lockdown restrictions had eased, so Mrs Treaclechops and I headed to the Isle of Wight for a few days. The...
Nobody Else’s Girl
. I fell in love in Glasgow: green eyes and shiny brown hair. It was the evocative way she said, “Aye, ye’ll dae fur th’...
Her Beautiful Smile
. Abandoned in a shopping bag in a public toilet . loneliness beyond comprehension. . Profoundly disabled . physically mentally . deaf blind . loneliness...
One Day in April
April 2022… a quartet of grandchildren: Jack (nine years), Jacob (eight years), James (six years) and Sophie (four years) came for a play...
Merlin
A carved wooden statue of Merlin stands in Carmarthen town centre. A mythical Celtic shaman, he was a constant in British folklore between the 5th...
Bonnie Bethany
. She found a shilling down the back of the sofa and gambled it on a horse called ‘Bonnie Bethany’ in the 5th race at...