A sketch which the wonderful people at R.O.A.R creative workshops in Folkestone and Ashford improved greatly.

He won’t get out
‘Why would he
Pin a new address
On loneliness?’
Without him
We feel empty
But he’s lonelier still

“You’re all I have”
“Don’t forget about me”
“I’m Hungrreeee…”
“Feed ME!”

And sometimes he’s quiet
And you think you’re winning
But he won’t go
Or if he does
He has the knack
Of crawling back
Into this house I built
With needle spires and poker chips
Bottles, pills and betting slips

But here’s the thing
If you lay it out
Into the light
And write
Our friend Mr Jones
Loses his grip
Slinks and slips
To the back of your mind
Just for a moment, a minute, an hour
Not completely for ever…
He loves you too much
But he prays that it’s fiction
Cos the very idea
Of eviction
Scares him shitless.

With thanks to: Lisa,Doug,Sarah,Lee,John,James,Tony,Andre and Dean at Reach Out And Recover – A Lived Experience Recovery Organisation in Kent. Also  RIP the great Jason Molina who’s lyrical concept I plundered shamefully for my lesson plan.