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Christmas 2011

In this issue:

A special edition featuring your poetry,

artwork and more!

Newsletter

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Sophie, The Orchard

It’s snowing! “It’s snowing! It’s snowing!” the little boy cried Wide-eyed with excitement of the whiteness outside

A blanket that covers as far as the eye sees So pure and new, even covering the trees.

“Let’s go for a ride!” he’s eager and keen Spoiling the newness, leaving tracks where he’s been.

Sliding down hills, making snowmen Throwing snowballs - then hiding in his den!

Toes tingling with cold, he doesn’t seem to care All this fun for one small boy, surely it isn’t fair!

Time for bed now - the day has been long

He’ll awake in the morning to find the snow has all

gone.

Jo

HMP Send

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Liat HMP Bronzefield When the heart bleeds When the heart bleeds There is not much you can do Look up to heaven And Jesus will help you through When the heart bleeds You know you are in pain But keep trusting in the lard And it will not be in vain The heart bleeds less today When you keep love in your heart all the way So look upon everything with love, Mankind, beast and the delicate turtle dove Isla Llanarth Court

The pension song Wash me and dress me, Feed me and boss me, Around as I go To pick up my pension Cos I’m nearly 7-oh!

Please give me my pocket money For as we both know You lock up my pension In the mahogany bureau.

Cigars and cigarettes Whisky and wine-o Appear in shop windows Wherever I may go.

Give me my freedom So that I may show The pubs and the people That I was never out of dough!

Angelina

Waterloo Manor

About sadness

When you feel sad you can think the worst of everything sadness is a strong feeling but you also change sadness into happiness it is a much better life to have and the world can go on to lead better life for everyone

Debbie

Alpha Hospital Sheffield

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Hospital I don’t know where it started from I don’t know where it came I don’t know where the earth belong to them But they took over my brain

Like aliens ascending down The culture of an E The trance of the rhythm The backbeat the shaking tectonic plate The tear flowed the cheek.

I was upset all along Where or when it came I don’t know anything Don’t look at me to blame.

Every time I took a puff And I was in decline The rainy day once a season away Came and came and came.

Although lost in troubles I could not see where this was going And forced to change my ways In year 2000 at St. Clements Hospital I had a change but 10 years on Thing went wrong And I’m in hospital again.

Jasbir

The Orchard

Toni HMP Bronzefield

Feelings inside my heart The days pass, through troubles and worries I feel very lonely inside, so I gaze out of my window until dawn. All I can see is green grass, a few yellow flowers coming up. There stands a thick tree with birds nesting, pigeons, and crows after their eggs. I see small types of sparrows feeding on the leaves. Blackbirds. The wood pigeon wakes me up, my alarm call. He tells me there is trouble lurking. When I look out there’s crows, foxes and George the black and white cat. So I bang gently on the window, they go. The birds like my music. I call them my guardian angels. Usha HMP Holloway

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The Gathering of Mythical Creatures The mythical creatures all met one night When the moon was full, big and bright. Gathered together-united as one The creatures amassed to share in some fun. The kingdom was alive- haunting and misty Enchanting it was-magical and wispy. Two unicorns stood up high on a cliff-edge And a family of dragons flew, circling a ledge. A solitary fawn pawed at the ground Watched by the angels, all standing around. Creatures were playing with griffins and gnomes Hopscotch, marbles and jacks with rune stones. The flames were glowing, hot in the fire Crackling sticks burned fast In the pyre. A wizard threw in some mystical powder Which made the fire-sparks bang-and sound even louder! A coven of witches met up with some others Generations of daughters, sisters and mothers. A lute sound filled all the creatures ears With beautiful music-passed down through the years; From one elf to another-like heirlooms of gold The richest of sounds, to the ears of young and old. The goblins, in particular, favour it much, It tickled their whiskers, ears and such. Late to arrive was a coach full of fairies They had not long finished the collecting of berries; To store for their suppers-for the next few days Delicious, those berries, cooked in so many ways. The imps love them too and so the pixies In pies, tarts and flans-but best in soup mixes. Daybreak draws near and the creatures are weary Playing all night, making many eyes bleary. In a few more hours, humans will be about The creatures must not be seen, of that there is no doubt. Most people cannot see them-too ignorant, it’s told Yet there are a few, who have insight, so bold. And maybe, one day, the creatures will appear To a select few humans, whom the creatures don’t fear. But, until that day, the twilight meetings will go on Secretly, monthly, until the full moon has gone.

Jo

HMP Send

Claustrophobic Nights out Beneath the sky If you want to know The reason why It’s where I find PEACE OF MIND

April

North Wales

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Clues Across 1. Celebration food 3. Question 5. Opposite of dark 7. Presents 9. Remains of a fire 10. Green spaces Down 1. Festive season 2. Star 4. Playground attraction 6. Tall plants 8. Jump on one foot Solution on page 10 Annarita Newsletter Officer

Christmas crossword

Christmas time Christmas time is almost here Excitement grows as it draws near What to buy for mum and dad More hankies, more socks - I’m sure they’d be glad

Then there’s the children who want sweets and toys Girls wanting dolls and bikes for the boys But they also want Xbox and DVD players And designer-label fashions - of these they want layers!

It’s a time for the family to all meet together And for friends to be on the phone for even longer than ever! And what about your cat and dog - don’t forget them too A squeaky toy, or a dangly fish, and a tasty treat or two.

So “Happy Christmas” to each of you all Have a lovely time this coming Yule. Jo HMP Send

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Missing loved ones After months and months of being alone I came up with a plan To sign up to internet dating And find myself a man

From the moment I met him, I had my doubts He had a lot of baggage I could have done without Letting him into my heart as he always said nice things Am I making a mistake, is he pulling my heart strings

It’s not taken long and I am already feeling blue Everything he told, just hasn’t rang true Cigarettes and booze, recreational drugs Anything and everything, just for a buzz

Trouble just comes to me and I don’t know why Most of my life I have done nothing but cry With the best of intentions to go forth in life Considering myself a loving caring future wife

I don’t seem to choose men They seem to choose me Is it my friendly good nature Or my vulnerability

I have no family and I have no friends And Shaun seen to that from beginning to end He’s passed away now and should be stress free A prison regime has just started for me

It’s breaking my heart not seeing my boys They won’t be happy just playing with toys I am their mummy and should be by their side Instead I’m being punished, every day and every night

My life is so empty not having you here Plenty of fear and too many tears We had everything to gain and nothing to lose You just couldn’t stop shouting and blowing a fuse

I can’t sleep at night or think straight of a day Somebody somewhere, show me the way I am not a bad person; I’ve a heart full of love I just need to learn to toughen myself up

Sitting all alone, just gathering my thoughts This isn’t a cell, it’s a cardboard box I have to get out of here; they have to hear my plea I haven’t hurt my boyfriend, I’m not guilty

I be getting out of prison soon And I’ll be back on the straight So take me to the exit And open up that gate

I want to be free from aches and pains Just want to be with my boys again I am who I am; I’m me, just me Want to be loved, respected and free

I can’t quite take it all in But they say it’s never too late Question is, is this my destiny Or could this be my fate

Karen

HMP Holloway

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You’re like a drug - I’m addicted. I need you close - my daily dose. Excites, ignites, delights me. My inner voice says fight the pain. Just one thing I need you again You’re my drug of choice I need another fix of you Only you will do. I’m addicted - you are like a drug. Amanda HMP Holloway

The seaside town The cafes are all deserted, The streets are wet again

There’s nothing quite like an of Season holiday town in the rain

Where the tourists go and the cold winds blow

I saw you again this morning Walking down the beach,

And though you were a Thousand miles away

You were only just out of reach

The cafes are all deserted The streets are wet again.

Angelina

Waterloo Manor

View through the Fences It’s hard to see clearly through the grill on the window And the mesh fence and mesh fence behind that. What is there outside this bubble? If I got out I wouldn’t know which way to run I don’t know where I am Lots of the windows are totally blanked out with film I peeled one off once but revealed another grill. At night my nightmares lurk behind them. “When did you first feel like that?” I can’t remember. I don’t know where I’ve come from I lose my balance if I approach the fences too fast The two lots of meshes mess with my vision and I can’t see through People ask “Will you go back to your old life?” I won’t; that is ended But I don’t know where I’m going Hilary Alpha Hospital Bury

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New Year’s Eve

Auld Lang Syne being sung By the crowd at the party Merry voices are raised The singing is hearty.

The countdown begins It’s almost midnight Out with the old year The atmosphere’s just right.

“Happy New Year!” The revellers shout “Don’t forget your promises!” Resolutions are talked about.

Party poppers popping Singing coming from most Kisses and best wishes And glasses raised in toast.

First day of the New Year The parties all done Settle back into your routines

Until the next New Year’s fun.

Jo

HMP Send

The hand A hand emerging from the fog (Of my life) Childhood questions… Answers will never arrive. See the figure/ my outline Does someone see me? Does anyone care? Do I want To get completely away from The fogginess Or just to attract someone To pull the hand And follow… Liat HMP Bronzefield

Valerie Liverpool

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Tally St. Andrew’s Hospital

Crossword solution

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We welcome all contributions to this newsletter, including poems, artwork, puzzles, or articles about your experiences of the system or an issue that affects you. We pay £5 for each piece that gets published.

Please send any contributions to: Wish, Freepost RSCY-BBTB-ZYHU, 77 East Road, London, N1 6AH

newsletter@womenatwish.org.uk

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All of the following Christmassy words can be found in the wordsearch below - except one!

Advent, Angel, Baubles, Candle, Carols, Elf, Holly, Jingle Bells, Mistletoe, Mulled Wine, Nativity, Noel, North

Pole, Presents, Reindeer, Santa Claus, Sleigh, Snow, Stocking, Tinsel, Turkey, Yuletide

To be in with a chance of winning £20, just write and tell us which word is missing, along with your name

and address, by Monday 30th January 2012. Our contact details are at the bottom of this page. All of the

correct answers will be put into a hat and a winner will be selected at random. Good luck!

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January/February 2012

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