From the windswept Famine Trail of Ireland to the starlit skies of the Southern Hemisphere, S.C. Flynn’s An Ocean Called Hope is a poetic journey across continents, generations, and inner landscapes. Published by Downingfield Press in May 2025, this evocative collection invites readers to travel through time and memory, guided by a voice that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.
At the heart of the collection are three distinct yet interconnected sections: “Memory and Promise,” “Grains,” and “Twelve Views of the Southern Cross.” Each section offers a unique lens on the themes of heritage, belonging, and transformation. In “Memory and Promise,” Flynn retraces the footsteps of his ancestors along Ireland’s Famine Trail, weaving reflections on diaspora and identity. “Grains” shifts the focus to small-town Australia, capturing the textures of a childhood shaped by its rugged landscapes. Finally, “Twelve Views of the Southern Cross” spans the globe, offering vivid impressions of the countries that bridge Flynn’s Irish and Australian roots—from the Pacific to South America.
Flynn’s poetry is known for its lyrical precision and emotional depth. As The Observer notes, “his imagery catches the imagination off-guard,” while his words “strike the page like flint, stoking the fire of hope within.” This collection is no exception. It is the fruit of many years of writing and life experience, shaped by Flynn’s time living in various countries and his enduring love for nature, music, and language.
Born of Irish origin in a small Australian town and now based in Dublin, S.C. Flynn brings a unique perspective to his work—one that bridges cultures, histories, and artistic traditions. A lifelong jazz musician and fluent Italian speaker, Flynn’s creative life is as richly textured as the poems he writes.
An Ocean Called Hope is more than a collection of poems—it is a tapestry of experience, a meditation on what it means to belong, and a celebration of the enduring power of memory and imagination.
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