Q1: My points of view over issues suh as racism, assimilation, etc have
not changed over time - they have probably intensified. As you get older
you realise that you cannot change the world alone but you can be part of
something e.g. a movement - that helps to change things in general. If the
poems in my books have done something to improve the lot of immigrants and
exiles then they have succeeded. They have reached out to a new
generation of students who hopefully feel positive about themselves, their
lives, their backgrounds and can feel confident about where they are going
into the future.
Q2: Birds have always represented beauty and freedom for me. E.g. in
Migrant hostel they are migratory birds - like immigrants they have moved
from one continent to another to find a new life.
Q3: Red is symbolic of many things, e.g. martyrdom, bloodshed, those who
have given their lives for their country, passion, and esp. at the end
where it represents the hardships of the future that still lie ahead after
the sea jorney.
Best wishes
Peter Skrzynecki
