Clive Palmer's poetry unearthed and it's, er, well-meaning

Experts peek between the covers of Dreams, Hopes and Reflections, published in 1981 when the tycoon was 26

Quiz: billionaire bards – was it Clive Palmer or Gina Rinehart who wrote it?

Clive Palmer has been praised as “rather humble, essentially good-hearted” and “well-meaning”. Well, his poetry has at least.

Palmer’s book of poetry, Dreams, Hopes and Reflections, was published in 1981 under the name F Clive Palmer when the mining magnate, and possible billionaire, was 26. It is not known how many copies survive, but when one happened to cross Guardian Australia’s desk it was immediately handed over to the experts.

I’m old now

Once I was beautiful

Gandhi I know you

Though I was not born

A better world to live in

a better way of life

You always wanted

what I could not give