John Perrault JD '79
Laureate Lawyer
A Seacoast bard examines the letter of the law.
A past poet laureate of the Portsmouth, NH, John Perrault has published some 100 to 150 poems and two books of poetry. He began writing in high school and is still composing, in both in traditional forms and free verse, at age 64.
"Whatever's bothering me and won't leave me alone," the Portsmouth, NH attorney says when asked about subjects for his poetry. His early inspiration came from a high school English teacher who managed to get him excited about English poets from the 18th Century to early 19th century romantics like Wordsworth. One might have expected it had been a young lady who first stirred lyrical impulses in the poet's soul.
"Well, there's always a young lady," he says.
In his travels, he has seen some of the places Wordsworth wrote about, including Tintern Abbey in Wales. Closer to home, he has been involved in a visual arts project that has combined poetry and visual imagery in works that now appear in a number of institutions, including City Hall and the District Court in Portsmouth.
Perrault, a North Hampton resident, has practiced criminal and family-related law in his career, often working with juvenile delinquents. His idea of wise and effective counseling is to direct potential litigants away from court and toward mediation and negotiated settlements. Courtroom battles often leave lasting scars on all sides, he says.
"In ancient, even prehistoric times, people were settling their differences through contests of strength," he notes. "We've come a long way, supposedly." But he still advises people to "Stay out of court as you would stay out of the hospital."
In addition to poetry, Perrault writes musical ballads. He has no plans to retire, however, in order to have more time for writing and composing. "I'm doing that now," he says.
Reprinted with permission from New Hampshire Magazine, October 2007.
