A poem written as a response to a Woking Writers Circle ‘homework’ theme more than two years ago has been published in a war poetry journal. ‘Cherry Blossom’ by Greg Freeman was written after fellow member Carla Scarano D’Antonio named it as the theme following a recent visit to Japan. It has just been published in the latest edition of the Wilfred Owen Association Journal, and referred to by editor Meg Crane thus: “We conclude with another fine poem from Greg Freeman – reminding us of the poetic world arising from the experience of Japan’s part in the Second World War.”

Greg said: “It’s always an honour and a privilege to be published in the Wilfred Owen Association Journal. I’m grateful to Carla for setting the homework in the first place! It sparked a number of excellent poems by WWC members. And I’m excited to say that I hope to include my Cherry Blossom poem in a new pamphlet to be published next year, to mark the 80th anniversary of the fall of Singapore.”