Written 8th of February 2021

Another camp

I’m being sent to stay

For delinquent adults

Who’ve lost their way

Dad’s there again

Waiting in the car

I’m hunting for clothes

Near and far

I’m scared

I’m worried

Not sure where to begin

What clothes should I take

Will I fit in

Dad’s hooting now

He calls to me

Suddenly he morphs

Into my brother, I see

“Come, hurry up

We have to go!

You don’t want to be late

And miss the show “

I can’t find one earring

I’m dressed like a bore

(Like a little old bag lady

What an eyesore)

My old companion ‘Shame’

Grabs hold of me

She fills every nook

And won’t let me free

I arrive at the camp

Mostly filled with men

Feelings of loneliness

Floods me again

“I wasn’t prepared!

I misunderstood!

“What do you mean

I had to bring my own food?”

The alarm bell rings

I wake with a sigh

So very grateful to kiss

Another dream goodbye

Never nightmares

Or anything that bad

Just jumbled emotions

That only leave me sad

I can identify the emotion…

Which holds on tight

My relationship with

‘Shame’ is still not right.

Maybe for now

All I can do

Is recognise it as such

And focus on what’s true

It is simply an emotion

Can I just let it be

It will serve me no good

To fight it head-on

To try and quell it

Label it as wrong

So I will take a deep breath

Allow it to stay

Hopeful that one day

Shame will quietly slip away