Belief

Today is our own Independence Day. Today is the day we've been waiting for - for 14 years.

When Tony Blair was elected, The Guardian said the day after- "you've got it - so don't mess it up". We might say the same to Keir Starmer. He is impressive and has done everything we want with regard to sorting out the Labour Party and has handled this campaign brilliantly. Have faith that he won't mess it up.

I've written a poem about every parent's worst nightmare. I didn't want to write about this. It just came tumbling out. Of course the power of writing, the cathartic power of writing, is to help you try and understand something you don't understand. 

I don't know if the poem helped. But what I believe is the whole thing taught us to have faith and that the only gifts at all ever worth giving are time, love and listening. We try and do that every day.

Faith in Maps

We had maps of countries we had visited together.
We could finger trace picnic spots, water parks and donkey rides.
Honey tinged playgrounds of your childhood.

We knew in later years you would draw maps of your own.
We smiled at your high street strut, ripped jeans and tattooed thighs.
Facades for your see-saw state of mind.

We were fooled by the bravado and the banter.
We couldn’t hear the voices in your head.
Roller coaster ride coaxing you to jump.

We struggled to see how you had lost your way.
We were looking for a territory unknown.
Wall of death, failed overdose, dark places.

We followed wild goose trails asking for help.
We were desperate to discover this alien land.
Hall of mirrors, disturbed reflection, distorted normality.

We had always put our faith in maps.
We need a map now to take us to where you are.
Maze of emotion to navigate and bring us all home.

Bill Allison.