CREATIVE WRITING FINALIST ENTRY
Poetry Finalist
The Switch
by Evelyn Weir
I lie on sackcloth
It scratches at my back with its dirty, bristly hatred
Fibres gripping and twisting on my skin
I am covered by wire
Barbed and bloody with a piercing reminder
“Useless….” it whispers, useless
I rest my head on sharp stones
Sandy and salty from stale ocean spray
Harsh and dry under my unwashed hair
I look for the light
But the switch is gone
I can never find that switch in the dark
I move a little, and the sackcloth writhes and grumbles
“You”, says the wire, “are useless”
The stones scrape and dig, crunching and moaning
A click
You turn on the light
Under me you spread warm blue cotton, fluffy, soft and comforting
You tear the wire from my body, it doesn’t call you names, or rip your hands the way it shreds mine
You throw the stones away, one by one splashing back into the sea where they know they belong
You wash my hair
Things shine, with you
I am learning to let you leave the light on
“I have watched the ‘see me’ campaign expand and grow over the years with great interest. As soon as I read about the ‘see me’ creative writing competition I was really keen to be involved, particularly with the inspirational theme of ‘support’. In my own experience, ‘support’ in mental illness and well-being comes from many sources – family, friends, professionals, medication and therapy- but in my case I wrote this poem specifically about the support I am fortunate to have from my husband.
“I’m thrilled to have made it through to the final stage of the competition. He hasn’t seen the poem yet, so it will be a huge surprise for him. I’m really looking forward to meeting the other See Me writers at the lunch in April.”
Evelyn Weir