50 Poems of Love, Loss and Remembrance
Copyright ©️ 2026
Published by Quiet Harbour Press 15 November 2026
148 pages | UK B Format 12.8cm x 19.8cm | Paperback
ISBN No.: 978-1-0654975-1-6
Five lives. Fifty poems. One Scottish family. A lifetime of stories worth telling.
Inspired by his deeply personal book Silent Victims: Part Two, Gary Millar presents a moving and thought-provoking collection of fifty original poems exploring the lives of five members of his family: his mother Madge, father Gordon, brothers Norman and Leslie, and Gary himself.
Drawing inspiration from ten distinctive poetic and spoken-word traditions, from Robert Burns to contemporary voices, Gary revisits a shared family history through very different perspectives.
These poems explore childhood, disability, hardship, humour, difficult relationships, forgiveness, love and loss. Some are uplifting, others uncomfortable, and many offer moments of tenderness and reflection.
At the heart of this collection is a simple but powerful truth: five people can share the same family, home and experiences, yet remember their lives in remarkably different ways.
Written with honesty, warmth and occasional humour, Five Lives, Five Laments is more than a personal family story. It is an invitation to reflect on our own lives, the people who shaped us, the conversations left unfinished and the memories we hold dear.
Whether you have followed the Silent Victims story or are discovering Gary’s writing for the first time, this collection offers an accessible and deeply human introduction to poetry, family history and remembrance.
Because every life has a story, every silence has meaning, and those we love live on through the memories we share.
Publication date: 15 November 2026
Order your copy of Five Lives, Five Laments and discover fifty poems that may just remind you of someone special in your own life.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alderman Gary Millar MBE, former Lord Mayor of Liverpool, is a proud Scot, adopted Scouser, author, entrepreneur, mentor and philanthropist. Drawing on his experience of growing up in care, he tells the often-overlooked story of how Thalidomide affected not only those born with disabilities, but their parents, siblings and wider families. Guided by his belief in ‘Pay It Forward’, Gary champions unheard voices and lives in Liverpool with his soulmate of 45 years.