Planting Trees: Poetry for Old People

These poems are reflections by someone born before the war, covering life, love and death from the perspective of personal atheism and a scientific background. Many explore human awareness, behaviour and beliefs in the context of technological change and possible implications for the future of mankind. The rest emphasise the importance of personal relationships and commitment in a world where each of us is an isolated self.In spite of an element of nihilism and black humour, the poems convey a sense that acceptance of the human condition is a way of finding fulfilment in old age.