For Hayley

Looking longingly out of windows and sitting in our assigned positions.

This is me and this is you.

I sit and watch whilst your thread catches to build up words.

Engulfed by wool. You look content.

This is you.

Cuts and scratches on bare skin. Empty pages and tired thoughts.

This is me.

Looking forwards and never back. This can be us.

For Siobhan

The things you tried to bury
Won't sleep like you want them to.
It's an exhausting way to live,
Trees still grow when your eyes are closed
It's the hardest thing.

At night
A conversation between strangers plays out softly.
Her voice over his,
Over yours over mine
Words like tiny fists dig themselves up

It starts and it takes a little longer to fall asleep
The trees still grow in the garden

New Flat Drawings

The Tree of New Beginnings

WHAT I LEFT BEHIND