Lawyer, soldier, lecturer, amateur performer, poet, writer and Lord Mayor of Sydney, Sir David Griffin CBE was also a prisoner of war in Changi prison camp in Singapore. In 2002, Griffin compiled Changi Days: The Prisoner as Poet, a collection of poetry written by prisoners in the camp. In this anthology, he describes a gentler side to the Changi experience than the traditional brutal image. Changi Days—The Prisoner as Poet, written by members of the Changi Literary Society, a group which he formed in the prison. The book contains a prose section written by Griffin, placing the poems in their historical context.

Shortly after being taken prisoner by the Japanese, a group of Australian established a literary society. Its aim was to encourage both Australian and British soldiers - many of whom had never written before - to seek sanctuary from their grim prison world by writing and then reading their works to their fellow inmates.

From the many poems written, David Griffin here presents 36 of the most powerful and moving works. He provides the background to each, thus helping the reader to share in the writers hopes and fears.

Despite the endless Changi days, the poets and all those who lived within the prison walls remained unfalteringly optimistic and cheerful right up to that one final night when suddenly it was all over.