HOMELESS and former homeless people have released a powerful poetry anthology about their experiences of life on the streets.

'Can We Inspire You?' features poems, photographs and artwork by the St Paul's Creative Group which began life seven years ago and continues to flourish.

The anthology was launched at an event at Cafe Bliss in Worcester on Friday, December 2 attended by the Mayor of Worcester, Cllr Paul Denham, his wife Lynn and the Poet Laureate for Worcestershire, Suz Winspear, who read two of her poems.

Nathan Collins who ended up sofa surfing and rough sleeping in January 2015 before St Paul's gave him what he called 'a life choice' acted as master of ceremonies.

The volume captures a range of experiences and emotions, opening with the poem 'Stereotypes' by the prolific Claire Badsey.

The poem, written in rhyming couplets, attacks the hackneyed preconceived notions some people may have about rough sleepers, asking 'How do people have to look, to be without a home?'.

The poem also considers some of the complex and varied reasons people may end up without a home from loss of a job to family strife to lack of acceptance of their sexuality.

Some of the poems in the volume have a raw, gritty and even a pugnacious quality from a group of people who refuse to be pigeon-holed by others and are determined to have a voice.

Charley Gittings writes in 'Representing How it Really Is": "There's no point in regretting anything you've ever done. It's a shame but in still happened. Don't back down to anyone."

Ray Morgan in 'The Lost Soul' addresses feelings both of loneliness and physical and psychological incarceration while his poem 'Time Passes' examines feelings of grief and despair.

'After the Darkness Follow The Trees', a well-structured poem of strong lyrical beauty by Peter Middleton, also features in the collection.

Gerry Lowman, co-ordinator of the group, has poems published in the anthology, one inspired by a visit to Stratford, the home of Shakespeare.

She said: "The Creative Group had a fantastic event to launch our booklet of poems and photos and represents, I think, a massive achievement and milestone for the group.

"We had a huge turn out at Café Bliss, standing room only."

The book can be obtained with a £5 donation to the Creative Group at St Paul's Hostel.

For more information contact St Paul's Hostel in Tallow Hill on 01905 723729 or follow 'St Paul's Creative Group' on Facebook.