Peter Todd was born in Gloucester in 1943, though he spent he first ten years of his life elsewhere, in various state homes, a difficult period he often speaks of in his poems. That early struggle ended in 1953, when he returned to the city, where he has lived\u00a0since.\u00a0 A self-taught poet, Peter humbly admits that\u00a0 “I do not read the writings of other poets, and I could barely try to equal another’s writings.”\u00a0 His sincerity and his love for Gloucester show through\u00a0his verse; he has read on many occasions in Gloucester, including at the dedication of the city’s World War II memorial in May of 2005.\u00a0 Soon after Peter’s death in December, 2015, a book dedicated to his memory and poetry, An Innocence of Vision,<\/em>\u00a0was published in Gloucester as reported\u00a0in\u00a0The Gloucester Daily Times<\/a>.<\/em>\u00a0 It is available in local bookstores.<\/p>\n

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Gloucester’s Triangle of Heroes<\/strong><\/p>\n

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We break ground to honor Gloucester’s heroes<\/p>\n

The dedicated veterans of World War 2.<\/p>\n

We gather in this triangle of vision<\/p>\n

Through the work of living veterans long due<\/p>\n

From the pen of Mayor Charles Brown<\/p>\n

To the dedication we share in today<\/p>\n

The Honorable Ralph B. O’Maley renown<\/p>\n

In witness of heroes of that time, this day<\/p>\n

Today this circle in hearts becomes a triangle<\/p>\n

The reflection of these heroes of Gloucester’s past<\/p>\n

Through the vision of World War 2 soldiers here<\/p>\n

The reality of this memorial is dyed and cast<\/p>\n

As the cadence is heard and the bugle sounds<\/p>\n

We give praise to god for all the veterans of World War 2<\/p>\n

Let the Flag of Freedom in glory be flown<\/p>\n

As this vision of Gloucester’s World War 2 veterans<\/p>\n

comes true.<\/p>\n

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Cat of Nine Tails<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n<\/strong> With open eyes and endless thoughts<\/p>\n

I reflect upon the pain in my back<\/p>\n

Asking myself why my mind was wrought<\/p>\n

Of the whippings for which I did not ask<\/p>\n

Each time I felt the stinging pain<\/p>\n

I would think of my mother I did not know<\/p>\n

Of the loving kindness of my sister<\/p>\n

Who in my dreams protected me from each blow<\/p>\n

I asked myself back in younger days<\/p>\n

Why was I taken away with such haste?<\/p>\n

Then I recalled as my loved ones would say<\/p>\n

I was lying in my own waste<\/p>\n

So dear Lord the sands of time has past<\/p>\n

And the scars of my body have healed<\/p>\n

Looking back those fifty years passed<\/p>\n

The answers of my crying heart have been revealed.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Peter Todd was born in Gloucester in 1943, though he spent he first ten years of his life elsewhere, in various state homes, a difficult period he often speaks of in his poems. That early struggle ended in 1953, when … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-113","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n