Barlinnie Poems

ADMc created a book of poems in Barlinnie, including these:

Rolling in with the Waves

As with all life experiences, recovery (from trauma, illness, addiction or anything) has some features that are common to many, and others that are unique to each individual. Here, Matt and Alex combine their stories into a poem that voices their different experiences of roads to recovery, stages of the journey, and setbacks or roadblocks inevitably encountered on the way.

When I made it I couldn't believe it

Rolling in with the waves

Lived to tell the tale

Been on an alcohol binge

survived it all

what doesn't kill ya

makes you stronger.

Recovery was on the agenda

Lived to tell the tale

been drinking far too much

need to keep all that in touch

Hurt but alive

Rolling in with the waves

Lived to tell the tale

Look back with pride

finally safe alive

when I made it I couldn't believe it

friends lost or gone

friends I ran from

feeling frightened

I had survived - despite my best efforts

had to leave people behind

I had survived - still don't believe it

The road to recovery lies ahead

do I see it?

perhaps as horizon

I can't rush or run -

I'm not ready

damaged but not broken

hurt but alive

I must bide my time

live in limbo land

When I made it I couldn't believe it

Rolling in with the waves

Lived to tell the tale

wish I could always move forward

unlock the door and let the sun wash in

but I have a drawer full of weak excuses

When I made it I couldn't believe it

Rolling in with the waves

Lived to tell the tale

Recovery is like a flower

that blooms again in June

survived the storms of life

saw the dark side of the moon

walked on broken dreams

through lousy housing schemes

trying to find a way

to see a brighter day

When I made it I couldn't believe it

Rolling in with the waves

Lived to tell the tale

Trim off the excess fat

relish the excess fat

survive, revive, recover, discover

replenish from excess

roll in with the waves

Group Writing Prompt

If you meet with a group of others to write, you can combine your efforts into a collaborative piece. Start with a free-write on a chosen subject. Read out what you've written, and pool ideas and phrases that seem to work well together. You can do further writes at this stage, maybe taking a phrase or idea from another person and putting your own spin on it. You can go on to think about sound and rhythm, as in this post - or introduce a metaphorical dimension by asking, for example, 'if [recovery ] were an animal [or piece of furniture, or dance style or country or . . . have fun making up your own categories] what would it be? Then discuss the best order for the material you're using. Building verses around a chorus that uses a line from each contributor, and using repetition, can work well.

'There Are No Zoos in Dunfermline' - an Alphabet Poem

You can write a poem by starting each line with a letter of the alphabet, in alphabetical order, as Alex demonstrates - using Dunfermline as his subject:

There Are No Zoos in Dunfermline

Aberdour Road’s not far away from here

Bellyeoman Road is where my doctor is

Canmore Street has the Alhambra and PJ’s

Duncan Crescent’s in the heart of Abbeyview

Eden Road is not far from there too

Foundry Street is where you’ll find the Job Centre

Garvock Hill …looks onto East End Park…

Hallbeath Road will take you to Fife College

I lived in Gillie Court that’s in ‘Brucefield’

James Street’s near the Kingsgate Shopping Centre…

Kirkgate has the Abbey on the left…Glen on the right

Lovers Loan is near Milton Green

Monastery Street has the war memorials south of the Abbey

Nethertown Broad Street has the Dunfermline Chess Club

Old Mill Court Yard looks on to the Rex Park

Pilmuir Street has the Carnegie Leisure Centre

Queen Anne Street had the Post office

Rose Street is second left up Townhill Road

Sandpiper Drive winds up Duloch’s eastern flank

Thistle Street third left up Townhill Road

Upper Mill Street’s south of the sorting office

Victoria Terrace near Headwell

Winterthur Lane winds past Bruce Street onto Mill Street

X marks the spot where…

York Place is…near the top of Paton Street…there are no

Zoos in Dunfermline Alexander Shand Hudson

Here is more of Alex's work:

A DAY AT THE FRINGE

While walking down the Royal Mile…

I played guitar and sang

To the walkers and the talkers

N listeners, trying to make a breakthrough

In buskers west alcove of Saint Giles Cathedral

I played and sang ‘Pub With No Beer’

A man put a coin in my hat

Cameras lights action…movies

Fringe festival takes to the streets

And alley ways of the High Street

The Mercat, Parliament square

Saw Japanese kung Fu artist there

Met Gerard there too my friend from

Long ago…took photo O me, put it

Up on Facebook…I shook hands with

Him and carried on singing…’No Hassles’

‘Walking The Plank’ filled the airwaves…

For a while and then the crowds got bigger…

‘All Along The Watchtower’…

I sang that one n all…

This festival's amazing…can’t get enough

I’ll go in with my guns a blazing

Tomorrows on my mind…

Who Knows what I will find.