they keep telling her to give up they keep telling her that it should be tough
keep telling her that it should be tough
keep telling her that it should be tough that it hurts in this world as a girl
that it hurts in this world as a girl
that it hurts in this world as a girl but that isn’t good enough because our
but that isn’t good enough because our
but that isn’t good enough because our society is stuffed with injustice that
society is stuffed with injustice that
society is stuffed with injustice that exists to restrict women’s positions
exists to restrict women’s positions
exists to restrict women’s positions delimit our ambitions and visions but
delimit our ambitions and visions but
delimit our ambitions and visions but we’re tired of the division the societal
we’re tired of the division the societal
we’re tired of the division the societal division between men and women up helped
division between men and women up helped
division between men and women up helped by artless outmoded patriarchal systems
by artless outmoded patriarchal systems
by artless outmoded patriarchal systems listen I refuse to live in a world where
listen I refuse to live in a world where
listen I refuse to live in a world where millions of girls are the victims of FGM
millions of girls are the victims of FGM
millions of girls are the victims of FGM where the 5,100 companies are invariably
where the 5,100 companies are invariably
where the 5,100 companies are invariably run by men so I’ll say it once again I
run by men so I’ll say it once again I
run by men so I’ll say it once again I refuse to live in a world where there
refuse to live in a world where there
refuse to live in a world where there are forced child marriages where we
are forced child marriages where we
are forced child marriages where we enjoy harasses and tube carriages where
enjoy harasses and tube carriages where
enjoy harasses and tube carriages where hundreds of Nigerian schoolgirls can be
hundreds of Nigerian schoolgirls can be
hundreds of Nigerian schoolgirls can be kidnapped and vanish and 500 days on the
kidnapped and vanish and 500 days on the
kidnapped and vanish and 500 days on the Western media no longer bats and eyelids
Western media no longer bats and eyelids
Western media no longer bats and eyelids we cannot close our eyes to this crisis
we cannot close our eyes to this crisis
we cannot close our eyes to this crisis when one in four women suffer domestic
when one in four women suffer domestic
when one in four women suffer domestic violence in their lifetimes when that
violence in their lifetimes when that
violence in their lifetimes when that statistic doubles for death women how
statistic doubles for death women how
statistic doubles for death women how can we choose to stay silent
can we choose to stay silent
can we choose to stay silent so women let’s widen our horizons voices
so women let’s widen our horizons voices
so women let’s widen our horizons voices sounding like sirens defying our silence
sounding like sirens defying our silence
sounding like sirens defying our silence vibrantly striving and fighting the
vibrantly striving and fighting the
vibrantly striving and fighting the violence bright as the diamond shining
violence bright as the diamond shining
violence bright as the diamond shining like tightens together our change will
like tightens together our change will
like tightens together our change will be seismic get behind this from kitchen
be seismic get behind this from kitchen
be seismic get behind this from kitchen tables to the tables of power women of
tables to the tables of power women of
tables to the tables of power women of the world know your power claimed the
the world know your power claimed the
the world know your power claimed the half of the world that is ours women of
half of the world that is ours women of
half of the world that is ours women of the world you are power
I live a double life by day I work as a
I live a double life by day I work as a feminist performance art writing and
feminist performance art writing and
feminist performance art writing and reciting poems like the one you’ve just
reciting poems like the one you’ve just
reciting poems like the one you’ve just heard I run workshops and schools and
heard I run workshops and schools and
heard I run workshops and schools and around the country talking to young
around the country talking to young
around the country talking to young women about their own voices and
women about their own voices and
women about their own voices and empowering them to do their best I’m
empowering them to do their best I’m
empowering them to do their best I’m also doing a PhD and very occasionally I
also doing a PhD and very occasionally I
also doing a PhD and very occasionally I appear on television and radio also by
appear on television and radio also by
appear on television and radio also by day and by night and by day and by night
day and by night and by day and by night
day and by night and by day and by night again some time without sleep
again some time without sleep
again some time without sleep differentiating between the two I live
differentiating between the two I live
differentiating between the two I live with a mental illness wearing my first
with a mental illness wearing my first
with a mental illness wearing my first hat I awake every morning eager
hat I awake every morning eager
hat I awake every morning eager enthusiastic to smash the glass ceiling
enthusiastic to smash the glass ceiling
enthusiastic to smash the glass ceiling and stick it to the patriarchy wearing
and stick it to the patriarchy wearing
and stick it to the patriarchy wearing my other one I find myself standing
my other one I find myself standing
my other one I find myself standing beneath the shattered glass ceiling
beneath the shattered glass ceiling
beneath the shattered glass ceiling being cut and hurt on its shards living
being cut and hurt on its shards living
being cut and hurt on its shards living with a mental illness means that I’m
with a mental illness means that I’m
with a mental illness means that I’m often left quite raw and exposed I don’t
often left quite raw and exposed I don’t
often left quite raw and exposed I don’t have a hard hat to protect me from the
have a hard hat to protect me from the
have a hard hat to protect me from the debris of my own self-doubt and myself
debris of my own self-doubt and myself
debris of my own self-doubt and myself lacerating criticism I often find that
lacerating criticism I often find that
lacerating criticism I often find that my internal voice and the booming
my internal voice and the booming
my internal voice and the booming ruthless patriarchy patriarchy tells me
ruthless patriarchy patriarchy tells me
ruthless patriarchy patriarchy tells me that I am stupid that I’m useless that
that I am stupid that I’m useless that
that I am stupid that I’m useless that I’m unintelligent and unattractive and
I’m unintelligent and unattractive and
I’m unintelligent and unattractive and don’t really deserve a place in the
don’t really deserve a place in the
don’t really deserve a place in the world
world
world it’s not very helpful really and these
it’s not very helpful really and these
it’s not very helpful really and these two opposite tendencies these two kind
two opposite tendencies these two kind
two opposite tendencies these two kind of threads of my life that get into
of threads of my life that get into
of threads of my life that get into woven so often seem to battle each other
woven so often seem to battle each other
woven so often seem to battle each other for dominance in my life I can find that
for dominance in my life I can find that
for dominance in my life I can find that I’m doing a TED talk today and then
I’m doing a TED talk today and then
I’m doing a TED talk today and then tomorrow I don’t know whether it’s going
tomorrow I don’t know whether it’s going
tomorrow I don’t know whether it’s going to be a day in bed amongst the rubbles
to be a day in bed amongst the rubbles
to be a day in bed amongst the rubbles and the ruin of my self-doubts or
and the ruin of my self-doubts or
and the ruin of my self-doubts or another day doing something that I’d
another day doing something that I’d
another day doing something that I’d want to be doing so I found myself quite
want to be doing so I found myself quite
want to be doing so I found myself quite conflicted by these two two opposite
conflicted by these two two opposite
conflicted by these two two opposite tendencies that I had in my day to day
tendencies that I had in my day to day
tendencies that I had in my day to day life for example during the final year
life for example during the final year
life for example during the final year of my undergraduate degree I was given
of my undergraduate degree I was given
of my undergraduate degree I was given one of the biggest opportunities that
one of the biggest opportunities that
one of the biggest opportunities that I’ve been given I was asked to make a
I’ve been given I was asked to make a
I’ve been given I was asked to make a film for the BBC to be to be broadcast
film for the BBC to be to be broadcast
film for the BBC to be to be broadcast on BBC iPlayer it was for a series
on BBC iPlayer it was for a series
on BBC iPlayer it was for a series called women who spit and the idea
called women who spit and the idea
called women who spit and the idea behind this was that it was five female
behind this was that it was five female
behind this was that it was five female poets making short films about
poets making short films about
poets making short films about social issues to inspire young women so
social issues to inspire young women so
social issues to inspire young women so my film that you may guess from the
my film that you may guess from the
my film that you may guess from the backgrounds here involved going to the
backgrounds here involved going to the
backgrounds here involved going to the BBC walking around and criticizing that
BBC walking around and criticizing that
BBC walking around and criticizing that the corporation itself for its own lack
the corporation itself for its own lack
the corporation itself for its own lack of diversity so it was a woman on the
of diversity so it was a woman on the
of diversity so it was a woman on the BBC complaining about how there aren’t
BBC complaining about how there aren’t
BBC complaining about how there aren’t enough women on the BBC I am aware of
enough women on the BBC I am aware of
enough women on the BBC I am aware of the irony there however five days before
the irony there however five days before
the irony there however five days before this still was taken five days before we
this still was taken five days before we
this still was taken five days before we started filming this series I found
started filming this series I found
started filming this series I found myself in an A&E department in an
myself in an A&E department in an
myself in an A&E department in an unknown corner of South London having
unknown corner of South London having
unknown corner of South London having been dragged from my university bedroom
been dragged from my university bedroom
been dragged from my university bedroom by two paramedics who I hadn’t expected
by two paramedics who I hadn’t expected
by two paramedics who I hadn’t expected to arrive sort of crouched in a blanket
to arrive sort of crouched in a blanket
to arrive sort of crouched in a blanket and covered in kind of tears and and
and covered in kind of tears and and
and covered in kind of tears and and suicidal thinking I spent the night
suicidal thinking I spent the night
suicidal thinking I spent the night there being assessed by lots of
there being assessed by lots of
there being assessed by lots of clinicians and practitioners then were
clinicians and practitioners then were
clinicians and practitioners then were sent home at 4 a.m. and back to my
sent home at 4 a.m. and back to my
sent home at 4 a.m. and back to my normal life and back to work and noticed
normal life and back to work and noticed
normal life and back to work and noticed that experiences like this were kind of
that experiences like this were kind of
that experiences like this were kind of dominating my internal landscape for
dominating my internal landscape for
dominating my internal landscape for example I’d find myself on other
example I’d find myself on other
example I’d find myself on other occasions at workshops often in all-girl
occasions at workshops often in all-girl
occasions at workshops often in all-girl schools talking to groups of young women
schools talking to groups of young women
schools talking to groups of young women talking to them about their their
talking to them about their their
talking to them about their their experiences of sexism running workshops
experiences of sexism running workshops
experiences of sexism running workshops with them to talk about their heroines
with them to talk about their heroines
with them to talk about their heroines the people that inspired them to get on
the people that inspired them to get on
the people that inspired them to get on in life and helping them to find their
in life and helping them to find their
in life and helping them to find their own voice but in-between moments like
own voice but in-between moments like
own voice but in-between moments like this I’ve been talking and absorbing the
this I’ve been talking and absorbing the
this I’ve been talking and absorbing the words and the worst of these young women
words and the worst of these young women
words and the worst of these young women I’d find myself retreating to the ghost
I’d find myself retreating to the ghost
I’d find myself retreating to the ghost toilets like a 15 year old me running
toilets like a 15 year old me running
toilets like a 15 year old me running away from bullies at school and I’d sit
away from bullies at school and I’d sit
away from bullies at school and I’d sit there sat on the toilet seat with the
there sat on the toilet seat with the
there sat on the toilet seat with the toilet seat down my knees up on the seat
toilet seat down my knees up on the seat
toilet seat down my knees up on the seat and my head between my legs
and my head between my legs
and my head between my legs hyperventilating or sometimes die
hyperventilating or sometimes die
hyperventilating or sometimes die feeling the sound of tears but the only
feeling the sound of tears but the only
feeling the sound of tears but the only thing that was different from me as a 15
thing that was different from me as a 15
thing that was different from me as a 15 year old is that there weren’t any
year old is that there weren’t any
year old is that there weren’t any bullies anymore outside all the bullies
bullies anymore outside all the bullies
bullies anymore outside all the bullies were my own internal demons they were
were my own internal demons they were
were my own internal demons they were all inside my own head and they were all
all inside my own head and they were all
all inside my own head and they were all telling me the same thing you’re useless
telling me the same thing you’re useless
telling me the same thing you’re useless they can see through you you’re not
they can see through you you’re not
they can see through you you’re not inspiring them you’ll not worth anything
inspiring them you’ll not worth anything
inspiring them you’ll not worth anything to these young girls and so I found
to these young girls and so I found
to these young girls and so I found myself asking these questions time and
myself asking these questions time and
myself asking these questions time and time again how do I change the world if
time again how do I change the world if
time again how do I change the world if I can’t get out bed
I can’t get out bed
I can’t get out bed how do I inspire other people and
how do I inspire other people and
how do I inspire other people and empower young women if I find myself to
empower young women if I find myself to
empower young women if I find myself to be like trash who do I actually hate
be like trash who do I actually hate
be like trash who do I actually hate more the patriarchy or myself in short
more the patriarchy or myself in short
more the patriarchy or myself in short why was I being such a sad feminist so I
why was I being such a sad feminist so I
why was I being such a sad feminist so I decided to write book a code you sad
decided to write book a code you sad
decided to write book a code you sad feminist coming in August 2017 and I
feminist coming in August 2017 and I
feminist coming in August 2017 and I decided to think about these issues and
decided to think about these issues and
decided to think about these issues and to relate into my life and spoiler alert
to relate into my life and spoiler alert
to relate into my life and spoiler alert him I still don’t have all the answers
him I still don’t have all the answers
him I still don’t have all the answers these are still questions that flow me
these are still questions that flow me
these are still questions that flow me sometimes and sometimes when my
sometimes and sometimes when my
sometimes and sometimes when my depression is at its worst I find myself
depression is at its worst I find myself
depression is at its worst I find myself not knowing how to pick myself up
not knowing how to pick myself up
not knowing how to pick myself up scraped myself off up the floor and then
scraped myself off up the floor and then
scraped myself off up the floor and then carry on but if I had one piece of
carry on but if I had one piece of
carry on but if I had one piece of advice that I’ve come to so far it would
advice that I’ve come to so far it would
advice that I’ve come to so far it would just be to talk and I found myself as as
just be to talk and I found myself as as
just be to talk and I found myself as as one often does when exploring the dark
one often does when exploring the dark
one often does when exploring the dark recesses of the mind
recesses of the mind
recesses of the mind I found myself turning to Sigmund Freud
I found myself turning to Sigmund Freud
I found myself turning to Sigmund Freud he says here being totally honest with
he says here being totally honest with
he says here being totally honest with oneself is a good exercise and for me
oneself is a good exercise and for me
oneself is a good exercise and for me this is a really simple truth that that
this is a really simple truth that that
this is a really simple truth that that happens to be very true talking to
happens to be very true talking to
happens to be very true talking to yourself checking in with yourself
yourself checking in with yourself
yourself checking in with yourself thinking about the way that you’re
thinking about the way that you’re
thinking about the way that you’re feeling and if possible sharing that
feeling and if possible sharing that
feeling and if possible sharing that with other people is really powerful and
with other people is really powerful and
with other people is really powerful and it doesn’t mean that you’re having a
it doesn’t mean that you’re having a
it doesn’t mean that you’re having a good day or that you’re having a
good day or that you’re having a
good day or that you’re having a particularly bad day but it just means
particularly bad day but it just means
particularly bad day but it just means checking in with yourself being honest
checking in with yourself being honest
checking in with yourself being honest with yourself about how you’re feeling
with yourself about how you’re feeling
with yourself about how you’re feeling and asking for help when you don’t feel
and asking for help when you don’t feel
and asking for help when you don’t feel that you can cope and so one in four of
that you can cope and so one in four of
that you can cope and so one in four of us in our lifetimes will experience what
us in our lifetimes will experience what
us in our lifetimes will experience what it’s like to have a mental illness I
it’s like to have a mental illness I
it’s like to have a mental illness I think it’s also important to check in on
think it’s also important to check in on
think it’s also important to check in on that one in one statistic so one in one
that one in one statistic so one in one
that one in one statistic so one in one of us every one of us knows what it
of us every one of us knows what it
of us every one of us knows what it feels like sometimes to not have
feels like sometimes to not have
feels like sometimes to not have self-confidence to be doubtful about
self-confidence to be doubtful about
self-confidence to be doubtful about something to feel bad under stress under
something to feel bad under stress under
something to feel bad under stress under pressure and so responding to that
pressure and so responding to that
pressure and so responding to that situation with empathy and talking with
situation with empathy and talking with
situation with empathy and talking with each other about how we’re all feeling
each other about how we’re all feeling
each other about how we’re all feeling is a really powerful tool but of course
is a really powerful tool but of course
is a really powerful tool but of course it doesn’t work for everyone you know
it doesn’t work for everyone you know
it doesn’t work for everyone you know one in four people respond very
one in four people respond very
one in four people respond very differently to their diagnosis or their
differently to their diagnosis or their
differently to their diagnosis or their situation and so there isn’t a
situation and so there isn’t a
situation and so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all rule for for how to
one-size-fits-all rule for for how to
one-size-fits-all rule for for how to deal with mental illness but for me it
deal with mental illness but for me it
deal with mental illness but for me it has been about talking
has been about talking
has been about talking and so I offer you this which is my
and so I offer you this which is my
and so I offer you this which is my disclosure which of course comes in the
disclosure which of course comes in the
disclosure which of course comes in the form of a poem I live with a mental
form of a poem I live with a mental
form of a poem I live with a mental illness I bear it bear it where it’s not
illness I bear it bear it where it’s not
illness I bear it bear it where it’s not as a badge of honor but as a badge of
as a badge of honor but as a badge of
as a badge of honor but as a badge of honest and unashamed sonnet an
honest and unashamed sonnet an
honest and unashamed sonnet an unconquered kingdom the sting the Djinn
unconquered kingdom the sting the Djinn
unconquered kingdom the sting the Djinn malingering beneath my skin without the
malingering beneath my skin without the
malingering beneath my skin without the tonic I will not keep it in the closet I
tonic I will not keep it in the closet I
tonic I will not keep it in the closet I promise to be a per sister resisting
promise to be a per sister resisting
promise to be a per sister resisting your stigma reclaiming my sickness
your stigma reclaiming my sickness
your stigma reclaiming my sickness repainting the picture landscaping
repainting the picture landscaping
repainting the picture landscaping reshaping my vistas this is something I
reshaping my vistas this is something I
reshaping my vistas this is something I will live through and live with not
will live through and live with not
will live through and live with not without medical assistance not without
without medical assistance not without
without medical assistance not without pain and shame and indifference not
pain and shame and indifference not
pain and shame and indifference not without therapy not without an internal
without therapy not without an internal
without therapy not without an internal enemy but I intend to be restless
enemy but I intend to be restless
enemy but I intend to be restless relentlessly spectacularly and endlessly
relentlessly spectacularly and endlessly
relentlessly spectacularly and endlessly for every single precious minutes I have
for every single precious minutes I have
for every single precious minutes I have more I am more than my mental illness
more I am more than my mental illness
more I am more than my mental illness and so basically that that’s how I feel
and so basically that that’s how I feel
and so basically that that’s how I feel about talking about mindfulness and then
about talking about mindfulness and then
about talking about mindfulness and then once I started talking I found that I
once I started talking I found that I
once I started talking I found that I really couldn’t stop myself
really couldn’t stop myself
really couldn’t stop myself I started writing about it I started
I started writing about it I started
I started writing about it I started performing on stage about it even
performing on stage about it even
performing on stage about it even appears here in my Twitter buyer at meg
appears here in my Twitter buyer at meg
appears here in my Twitter buyer at meg Beach poetry follow me there and so I’m
Beach poetry follow me there and so I’m
Beach poetry follow me there and so I’m like to be honest about the fact that I
like to be honest about the fact that I
like to be honest about the fact that I live with a mental illness and it’s not
live with a mental illness and it’s not
live with a mental illness and it’s not something that I’m ashamed of but there
something that I’m ashamed of but there
something that I’m ashamed of but there have been two kinds of talking that I
have been two kinds of talking that I
have been two kinds of talking that I found really really helpful the first is
found really really helpful the first is
found really really helpful the first is to go into therapy
to go into therapy
to go into therapy now therapy seems to be another one of
now therapy seems to be another one of
now therapy seems to be another one of these taboos that we feel a bit
these taboos that we feel a bit
these taboos that we feel a bit uncomfortable around we think that we’re
uncomfortable around we think that we’re
uncomfortable around we think that we’re going to be taken in and shoved on a
going to be taken in and shoved on a
going to be taken in and shoved on a sofa and forced to talk about our mom
sofa and forced to talk about our mom
sofa and forced to talk about our mom and dad and how they screwed us up but
and dad and how they screwed us up but
and dad and how they screwed us up but it’s really not the case that that’s
it’s really not the case that that’s
it’s really not the case that that’s what it’s like having someone that you
what it’s like having someone that you
what it’s like having someone that you can sit actually in a chair opposite
can sit actually in a chair opposite
can sit actually in a chair opposite twice a week in my case and with then
twice a week in my case and with then
twice a week in my case and with then with the knowledge that what you share
with the knowledge that what you share
with the knowledge that what you share there is safe is something constructive
there is safe is something constructive
there is safe is something constructive and something that you can work through
and something that you can work through
and something that you can work through and not something that has
and not something that has
and not something that has and answer so in the article I wrote to
and answer so in the article I wrote to
and answer so in the article I wrote to The Guardian I was I was asked to talk
The Guardian I was I was asked to talk
The Guardian I was I was asked to talk about what the gift I had been given
about what the gift I had been given
about what the gift I had been given from therapy was and actually to be
from therapy was and actually to be
from therapy was and actually to be honest it wasn’t one thing it’s not a
honest it wasn’t one thing it’s not a
honest it wasn’t one thing it’s not a solution you don’t walk into a room and
solution you don’t walk into a room and
solution you don’t walk into a room and someone says oh these are your problems
someone says oh these are your problems
someone says oh these are your problems and this is how you sort them out it’s
and this is how you sort them out it’s
and this is how you sort them out it’s about kind of developing mechanisms for
about kind of developing mechanisms for
about kind of developing mechanisms for relating to other people talking to
relating to other people talking to
relating to other people talking to other people and therapy really relies
other people and therapy really relies
other people and therapy really relies on strain and failure collaboration and
on strain and failure collaboration and
on strain and failure collaboration and effort and somewhere in between all
effort and somewhere in between all
effort and somewhere in between all those processes I found that it’s much
those processes I found that it’s much
those processes I found that it’s much easier to do as far as says to be
easier to do as far as says to be
easier to do as far as says to be completely honest with oneself to be
completely honest with oneself to be
completely honest with oneself to be more honest with myself about the way
more honest with myself about the way
more honest with myself about the way that I’m feeling and the way that I’m
that I’m feeling and the way that I’m
that I’m feeling and the way that I’m coping the other way that I found useful
coping the other way that I found useful
coping the other way that I found useful to talk you may guess is to write poems
to talk you may guess is to write poems
to talk you may guess is to write poems and so I think that poetry is really
and so I think that poetry is really
and so I think that poetry is really accessible it’s something that we can
accessible it’s something that we can
accessible it’s something that we can all do it doesn’t have to rhyme it
all do it doesn’t have to rhyme it
all do it doesn’t have to rhyme it doesn’t have rules and and it’s just a
doesn’t have rules and and it’s just a
doesn’t have rules and and it’s just a way again of checking in with ourselves
way again of checking in with ourselves
way again of checking in with ourselves of being totally honest with ourselves
of being totally honest with ourselves
of being totally honest with ourselves and and for me therapy poetry rather has
and and for me therapy poetry rather has
and and for me therapy poetry rather has become the primary tool that I use in in
become the primary tool that I use in in
become the primary tool that I use in in my toolbox that are called getting
my toolbox that are called getting
my toolbox that are called getting through life it’s a way to unravel the
through life it’s a way to unravel the
through life it’s a way to unravel the things that have been happening to me
things that have been happening to me
things that have been happening to me it’s a way to share my rage about
it’s a way to share my rage about
it’s a way to share my rage about anything from Tori cuts to brexit to
anything from Tori cuts to brexit to
anything from Tori cuts to brexit to depression to sexism in in our day to
depression to sexism in in our day to
depression to sexism in in our day to day lives and and it’s a way to share
day lives and and it’s a way to share
day lives and and it’s a way to share and communicate that with other people
and communicate that with other people
and communicate that with other people who often respond positively to that
who often respond positively to that
who often respond positively to that because people respond well to one
because people respond well to one
because people respond well to one opening one selves up so for me I write
opening one selves up so for me I write
opening one selves up so for me I write poetry not in spite of my mental illness
poetry not in spite of my mental illness
poetry not in spite of my mental illness but because of my mental illness so I
but because of my mental illness so I
but because of my mental illness so I write poetry because one in four women
write poetry because one in four women
write poetry because one in four women will suffer domestic violence in their
will suffer domestic violence in their
will suffer domestic violence in their lifetime because that statistic doubles
lifetime because that statistic doubles
lifetime because that statistic doubles for deaf women I wrote poetry because I
for deaf women I wrote poetry because I
for deaf women I wrote poetry because I have depression because I am part of the
have depression because I am part of the
have depression because I am part of the one and one because I’m part of the one
one and one because I’m part of the one
one and one because I’m part of the one in four and I write poetry because I
in four and I write poetry because I
in four and I write poetry because I actually have a voice I can talk and and
actually have a voice I can talk and and
actually have a voice I can talk and and we all have that power all of us even
we all have that power all of us even
we all have that power all of us even when we feel at our absolute weakest
when we feel at our absolute weakest
when we feel at our absolute weakest have the power to use our voices and to
have the power to use our voices and to
have the power to use our voices and to make them heard whether they rhyme
make them heard whether they rhyme
make them heard whether they rhyme not so I thought I’d leave you with a
not so I thought I’d leave you with a
not so I thought I’d leave you with a poem rather pretentiously titled secular
poem rather pretentiously titled secular
poem rather pretentiously titled secular hymnal for the lonely but essentially
hymnal for the lonely but essentially
hymnal for the lonely but essentially this is my pitch for anyone who feels
this is my pitch for anyone who feels
this is my pitch for anyone who feels that they maybe don’t have a voice or
that they maybe don’t have a voice or
that they maybe don’t have a voice or doesn’t know how to use it for the ones
doesn’t know how to use it for the ones
doesn’t know how to use it for the ones with the sadness sewn into your skins
with the sadness sewn into your skins
with the sadness sewn into your skins stuck in you soldered into your sinews I
stuck in you soldered into your sinews I
stuck in you soldered into your sinews I sing with you a song spun deep at the
sing with you a song spun deep at the
sing with you a song spun deep at the bottom of my own lungs weighing a ton
bottom of my own lungs weighing a ton
bottom of my own lungs weighing a ton too long and some tripping on the tip of
too long and some tripping on the tip of
too long and some tripping on the tip of my tongue burning in my bones plaguing
my tongue burning in my bones plaguing
my tongue burning in my bones plaguing my poorest Ollis awkward so this one is
my poorest Ollis awkward so this one is
my poorest Ollis awkward so this one is for those whipped beaten down and blown
for those whipped beaten down and blown
for those whipped beaten down and blown by the roughest of winds raging storms
by the roughest of winds raging storms
by the roughest of winds raging storms from deep within together we sing
from deep within together we sing
from deep within together we sing clinging with conviction that we will
clinging with conviction that we will
clinging with conviction that we will survive and defy this sickness clutching
survive and defy this sickness clutching
survive and defy this sickness clutching the slice of the something within us
the slice of the something within us
the slice of the something within us that we can learn how to live with here
that we can learn how to live with here
that we can learn how to live with here I stand as witness as you wake an aura
I stand as witness as you wake an aura
I stand as witness as you wake an aura storm chorus from the corners of your
storm chorus from the corners of your
storm chorus from the corners of your dark grow a gorgeous corpus of
dark grow a gorgeous corpus of
dark grow a gorgeous corpus of thoughtfulness from the fractured
thoughtfulness from the fractured
thoughtfulness from the fractured fragments of your fishes heart you are
fragments of your fishes heart you are
fragments of your fishes heart you are more than your scars you brave bright
more than your scars you brave bright
more than your scars you brave bright day you shy Skylark you tiny piece of
day you shy Skylark you tiny piece of
day you shy Skylark you tiny piece of miracle you singer in the choir
miracle you singer in the choir
miracle you singer in the choir invincible you inexplicable formidable
invincible you inexplicable formidable
invincible you inexplicable formidable original you mercenary of miserable I
original you mercenary of miserable I
original you mercenary of miserable I know that it is difficult that the chasm
know that it is difficult that the chasm
know that it is difficult that the chasm feels unfathomably unbridgeable but
feels unfathomably unbridgeable but
feels unfathomably unbridgeable but through courage and strife you can
through courage and strife you can
through courage and strife you can rebuild a life indescribably rich and
rebuild a life indescribably rich and
rebuild a life indescribably rich and full as holy as a hymnal heavy and
full as holy as a hymnal heavy and
full as holy as a hymnal heavy and hopeful hearts continue refrain a flame
hopeful hearts continue refrain a flame
hopeful hearts continue refrain a flame shake off the shame sing out what’s in
shake off the shame sing out what’s in
shake off the shame sing out what’s in you heavy and hopeful hearts I know that
you heavy and hopeful hearts I know that
you heavy and hopeful hearts I know that it’s really really hard but please
it’s really really hard but please
it’s really really hard but please please continue Thanks
please continue Thanks
please continue Thanks you
”
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