The love of travel comes through loud and clear in the most recent literary work of Louis Creek author/poet Réjean Coallier. His 132 page Travelling Poetry Trilogy is packed full of adventures as he travels through Central America, Mexico, and Canada. Coallier relates all that he sees and experiences, including unexpected romances, and a girl he loved but “couldn’t bring home”.
The trilogy reads like a personal travel guide, with tips on where to stop, what to see, and even warnings about pickpockets. The book is filled with full colour photos, taken as he covers the miles, and fills his book with the experience.
Coallier says, “The book is about my life experiences; some strenuous, hazardous, exciting and adventurous. The joyful deliberations of the human spirit.”
Coallier is also the author of another travelling poetry book called ‘11,000 Km. Across Canada’, published in 2007. This book tells the story of his trip across Canada on a double decker bicycle to raise $5,000 for the BC Lung Association, and is based on journal entries starting from the day the trek was decided to the final day returning to Vancouver. The book is self published and the cover design was done by his son Julien Coallier.
“I call my way of writing: ‘Travelling Poetry’,” says Coallier, “This way of writing being the reflection of my journeys in Québec and abroad, and so I involve myself as the vessel of observation, attempting to express my surroundings and experiences for the catalyst my mind is inspired by.”
“Poetry is usually dream and fiction but Travelling Poetry is not. I would like to give the chance to everyone to be in contact with my style of writing; as of course is the achievement of all writers.”
Coallier notes that both books have also been published in French, telling he is originally from Quebec where he published another book in French only titled ‘Poésie de la Vie’.
Asked if another book was in the works the author replied, “It will be about travelling again; perhaps I’ll start in B.C. and go to the UK and Ireland. I would also like to go to the town in France where my ancestors came from in the 1600’s. It will always be travelling poetry; about what is really happening.”
A mechanical engineer by trade, Coallier, now 55, says, “I did many things,” adding that one of them is travelling, including making the move from Kamloops to Louis Creek four years ago.
Asked why he travels and writes about it in poetry Coallier replied, “I like the adventure, and I like to share my adventure with people.”
The forward in ‘Travelling Poetry Trilogy’ writes:
“All these texts
Are from marvelous travelling
They were written in
complete liberty,
By a delighted man.”
“All these impromptu
encounters
Are told and they
happened.
Life is beautiful
In the hands of
the eternal.”
The Travelling Poetry Trilogy, and 11,000 Km Across Canada are available for sale at Barriere Country Feeds, and Country Store Antiques in Louis Creek.
For more information or to order a book go to www.rejeancoallier.com.