In June 2024, we went to Milton Keynes to meet young people from several local schools. They spent the morning hearing stories of people seeking sanctuary, asking questions and reflecting on what they had heard.
After lunch they were dispatched to various different workshops. It was a hot day. I had, if I am being honest, some doubts about how inclined these teenagers would be to engage with the invitation to write poetry.
I should have given them more credit. The doubts were completely unfounded. Time was limited so many of them are unfinished, unrefined snippets, but nonetheless, we were blown away by their beautiful words.
***
Danger is felt in many different ways
It's the sound of sirens on a cold night
It's the sight of people rushing to safety
It's the smell of a long journey in the crisp air
It's the taste of nothing after a long day
It's the feeling of not knowing where you will end up
Safety is like a mother's hug
It's the sound of children's laughter
It's the sight of people sharing a meal
It's the smell of pancakes in the morning
It's the taste of a hug
It's the feeling of peace with each other
***
Danger is the taste of tears
Danger is the sound of the whistling wind
Danger is the feeling of a cold stone
Danger is being glared at, with stares of hate
Danger is muttering and mockery and fights and distrust
Danger is the creep at the back of your mind
***
Danger is fear
The sound of fear
The sight of fear
The smell of fear
The taste of fear
The feel of fear
There is no silence
There is only fear
The mind of man and woman
Challenged physically and mentally
There will, always, be fear.
Escaping is a chance
***
Danger is the sound of thunder and lightning above my fragile tent
It is the smell of a burning heart and melting emotions covered by tears
Danger is the taste of bitter honey made by a vagabond bee
Safety is the sound of a little baby rocked in his cradle in a deep sleep
***
Danger is the sound of fear
It is the sight of scary people
It is the smell of fear
It is the taste of poison
Danger is the feel of a dangerous presence
Safety is the sound of peace
It is the sight of a home-like place
It is the smell of peace
It is the taste of peace
Safety is the feel of happiness
***
Danger is the sound of bullets and gun shots
It is the sound of death
It is the smell of gunpowder
It is the taste of tears
Danger is the feel of dread
Safety is the help of family
It is the comfort of friends
Safety is a silent night
***
A sense of danger
The beginning of a fresh breakfast, pulling and tugging me into a sense of safety, but a sour smell is left behind
It is juicy and crunchy, packed with hope, but the distant crust is burnt and scared
***
Danger is feeling trapped
The sound of silence
The sight of bodies hitting the floor
The smell of gunpowder
The taste of smoke
The feel of emptiness
A refuge is relief
The sound of happiness
The sight of smiling faces
The smell of my mother's cooking
The taste of freedom
The feel of life
***
Danger is waking up to an empty house,
Beds that annoying siblings and nagging mothers will never sleep in again
Danger feels like blankets un-warmed by human heat
Danger is willing yourself to cry, but you can't
Safety is the physics homework you don't want to to do, and dreading the same lesson every week
It is tired feet and getting donuts as a treat on the way home
Safety is going to Tesco on a Wednesday with mum, So boring it is sacred.
***
Sound of sirens, constant reminder sin my head: I am in danger
Flames and fire, bombs and flares, I am in danger
Vileness of the smoke, the waste, the rot that inhabits the corners fills the air. I am in danger
Paper plates of muck and yuck, but the muck and yuck is all we have. I am in danger.
Cuts, grazes, bruises and blood, blanketing my innocent skin. I am in danger
A refuge is the sound of your mother, calling you up to another new day
A refuge is the sight of breakfast
***
Safety is the sound of doves chirping high in the air
The sight of a rainbow after an overwhelming storm
The smell of flowers freshly blooming
The taste of homemade goodies
The feel of warmth surrounding us
***
Danger is the smell of toxic gas filling our lungs, clouding them with silence
The smell of blood, its iron piercing my nose like a sword
The taste of freedom on the tip of my tongue, a drop which pushes me further
The taste of picking between the red and the blue pill, but both are a form of poison
The sound of gunfire , twanging in my ears like fiery hail
A mother's wail for her child, a whereabouts unknown, it's like he's been lost forever
***
Danger is uncertainty
Danger is the sound of your echoing screams
Danger is the metallic twang of your own blood
Danger is the sight of a motherless child
Danger is the smell of burning
A refuge is the feeling of a full stomach
A refuge is the sight of a a rainbow after a storm
A refuge is the smell of rain
A refuge is the sound of birds chirping
A refuge is the taste of homemade cookies.
***
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