Some of our family member’s have been attending My Support Day’s online writing group that runs every Monday between 1pm-2pm (contact melaniemcpherson155@googlemail.com for more info).
This group has been teaching family members to use poetry and writing to share their thoughts and help with their mental wellbeing.
It has resulted in this lovely poem by Karen MacDonald:
WHY ARE WE SURPRISED?
Why are we surprised
When dark clouds come?
When grey banks of them
Build on the horizon, menacing,
Threatening storms to come?
Why are we surprised?
Is not life like nature?
There are seasons,
Spring, all full of green,
Summer, bright and filled with flowers,
Autumn, full of gold and red,
And Winter, grey and bleak, but
Tempered nonetheless with warmth
From glowing fires and Christmas.
Sometimes Nature
Can be terrifying. Overwhelming.
Tornadoes sweep across the land,
Whirlwinds wreak their havoc,
Volcanoes spew out toxic death.
Earthquakes shake
The very ground beneath our feet.
So it is with alcohol or drugs.
The family, once warmed by summer sun,
Content, at peace,
Is torn apart, the fabric of our lives
In shreds. Trust is gone. Nothing
Is as it was. Fear stalks us all
Like some controlling monster.
Why are we surprised?
We’ve seen it all before
In other people’s lives.
But not in ours! Surely not in ours?
Have faith.
The tornado WILL die down.
The whirlwind WILL move on.
The volcano WILL subside.
The ‘quake WILL settle.
Summer sun WILL shine again.
It always does in nature.
Just wait, and do not be surprised. Ⓒ Karen McCuaig MacDonald