Congratulations to Family Voices 2024 runner-up, Kathleen Bryson with her entry, Only Hope.
Adfam’s Family Voices Competition is a poetry and creative writing competition, for families affected by substance use to share their story and creatively express their thoughts and feelings.
Kathleen was selected by the judging panel as one of the runners-up for 2024, and had her entry read out at Adfam’s Christmas Carol Concert on 12th December. You can read the entry below:
ONLY HOPE
by Kathleen Bryson
When I think about you I just sit and weep,
there’s never been a promise made, that you ever keep,
I feel so lost and lonely over who you have become,
and that is really hard for me as I am still your mum,
I know you steal my money if I leave my handbag down,
or anything of value is you see it lying around,
my jewellery has all gone momentos that I had,
and when I think about them it makes me feel so sad,
but that sadness it is nothing to the grief I feel for you,
as I am still your mother and I do so love you.
I so worry about you and the company your keep,
and even though I go to bed I really cannot sleep,
the thoughts that swirl around my head they keep me wide awake,
I don’t know how much longer of this nightmare I can take,
but I must keep on hoping the one day you will be,
the child that I gave birth to the person you should be.