I come to see you in this place
A train, a bus, a longish walk
A mask of growth veneers your face
We picnic, catch up, laugh and talk
A train, a bus, a longish walk
They brought you here to make you well
We picnic, catch up, laugh and talk
You’ve questions, jokes and tales to tell
They brought you here to make you well
You’re brave but anxious, seventeen
You’ve questions, jokes and tales to tell
Of doctors, therapists you’ve seen
You’re brave, autistic, seventeen
You’re going to get the help you need
From doctors, therapists you’ve seen
The help we had to claim and plead
You’re going to get the help you need
But I can’t help but wonder whether
If that help came when we pleaded
We’d still be at home together
I can’t help but wonder whether –
Pouring fruit juice, opening cakes –
We might still be at home together
However long recovery takes
So I bring fruit juice, dad brings cakes
A mask of growth veneers your face
However long recovery takes
We’ll come to see you in this place
This poem was shortlisted for the Marsden the Poetry Village 2019 competition, and is included in the competition anthology, ‘Together’.
