The Echoes poetry competition to celebrate Write Out Loud's 20th anniversary is now open.  Judged by Neil Astley.

Competition closes in 7 hours and 31 mins. Get details and Enter.

Who asked

For what is an opinion if nobody cares to listen 

For the truth normally isn't a big speech or a selfish put pour if emotion 

It's not a catch phase and you certainly won't find it on the devils favourite tool we call social media 

No truth is a claim affair a whisper of uncertainty the call help that normally comes a little yo late 

If you se the true holder of the honest tongue still...

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Rush

To be free from hurry and indecision 

To be free from insecurities and negative self talk 

Yo be unchained from the carnage that is my internal self 

To be break free out of the horrible commit that is the daily commute 

To understand their is no real rush or nothing to hard 

For if I had wish I wished for new eyes so I could see the beauty in the world the pace in the morning and c...

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Slow slow

Slow slow go slow 

For I can't see the forset from the tree's 

The path seems longer then amy other day before 

Please if theirs a plan let me in cause am sick and tried of trying to figure it all out. 

For am lost and pouring my heart out on the Internet 

Ohni could do with a friend 

I think she falling out of love with me am just falling into the big hole within meself oh the d...

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I never

I never asked for this disease no nobody ever asked me no I didn't want to be a stupiet junkie a pill poper or a wineo, no when inqas a kid I want to be a pro wrestler not to wrestler with demons 

I never fancy the shakes never wanted to be peroinord nor did I want the dirty skin I'm which addiction brings, the smell of yourself after 3 days of no washing and self harm or the dirty trick the de...

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They (who they are)

They ( who ever they are) say depression is a battle a on going conficted, a internal struggle a war between mind and body, well dear they I made it of bed before 6 am is that battle won 

To you am a sick in the mind or a ill man a lost cause 

A victim of modern disease but I didn't give in I have done it all a poor boy chasing a dream a write of at 21 ots roo much for him 

To a inspirati...

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Life

If feeling are false is my life a lie 

Cause clarity comes after insanity 

There's truth hidden in the madness 

A warmth to be found in the Irish winter 

And just like the summer loves comes after the rain 

Life's a funny old game 

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The self

I woke up to the same sound each morning 

It's not brids builders pr busy traffic 

But a noise from the inside s shout in a empty mind 

Not today not today we can do this it's too hard on goes the battle cry 

Eventually I tell the inner child we gota get up for there's bills to pay and a life to live 

So I stumble to the shower more arguments with myself this time it's the adult sel...

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Getting through

Am a product of me environment 

A victim of circumstances 

A create of my own make 

Am I distance to go with the dam 

Sure you be grand 

For every bad night comes morning 

And for every lost soul comes someone to find them 

Sit down friend and I help you slow down 

For I was going to fast way to far ahead 

So God sent me a old wise friend

For it wasn't screen's I need...

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A sober mind

I been I long time in my sober mind ,let me tell you the grass osmt much greener when you stop smoking weed.

It's been such a long time ten years two week and a day but who counting the days since I begin to cry 

Too be honest my thoughts are more twisted trying ro stay on the straight and narrow 

God my gods are up i surrender I feel like a soilder theirs a war going on inside am I ticki...

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Torn

Baby is their any peace in this world for me and you 

Are we destined to be thorn apart 

Destined to ve Paull apart flfrom disease 

Cause been mental is mentally draining

I know I know we all a past but lately am feeling passed trying pasted worrying what people think about what others have 

Because when the world treated to take you away I soon realised their's no gain in martial t...

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Be human

For all my likeable quality's checky smile good for a laugh and joke and warm heart it's a bonus 

But you see am still flawed human 

Am often late often moody punch things when nobody's around oh yeah I got pain too 

Am often chancing my arm 

Don't care to much about being great 

Big houses and fancy things just don't do it for me 

I rather be on my own 

I do like the down and...

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Performance

I had meeting once with the powers that that think their all that 

Something about performance they said, is how there settled in and that 

They asked many questions 

I just smiled and nodded hoping they keep on paying me 

Cause that's the game my time for your money 

So I can go on spend on Spills thrills the odd pill and a new pair of kicks 

Just to fill the avoid  to fill the ...

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Will I still love me

Of i should fall out of grace with all the love around me 

If I lose face in the fincinal department 

If I pick up the bottle for one more 

Would unskilled love me even when God turns me away 

And the devil has dealt me his last deal 

Will you still love me 

When my trusts in people breaks 

And I can't get up 

When the light of the morning sun hurts my eyes like a punch fro...

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Bay

Am sorry I left their for a bit I know you notice my body was here but my mind did a runner and my soul just needs a rest from time to time 

To be honest it's all been a bit much 

I know my anger robs me from you 

Buts it's hard to live head with high when the panic sets in 

Hard to see when the rage is blinding 

And I won't lie theirs time a feel like running 

Times a feel like ...

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So

So if I where to disappear just walk off hold by hands up and I can't cope no more 

Would you move heaven and earth to find me or would you just find somebody new 

So if I just say everything from the heart pour it all out into the street with all my tears would there if be a coward or even a ear to listen 

So who would really talk me down from the ledge of I go I've the edge 

Is the w...

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Anger + me

Anger and are old friends his a flame that's been burning a long time. 

You see for the most part am a smiling sort of soul a happy go lucky or at least that's what I want you think 

See I have care for people cared to much to say my piece care to much to what others think to go after my dreams

So I remain stuck in my nightmares and a tid bit lonely that's we my pal anger comes in. 

He...

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My dark self

I got to amdit to meself 

There been nights I have been a mess, my head wouldn't settle in the nest

Oh then the mornings they be worse 

The anxiety the panic the feeling like am nothing and was worth less then that 

There where days when it would get so bad I just want to go to the best place the scars would plague me

To afraid of the here after but to afraid of the here and knew 

...

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Am I

Am I doom cause I struggle to sleep 

Am I useless cause I can't find any meaning in a useless job

Am I destined to drown cause I prefer to swim with  shark 

Am I on the brink because I dunno how to step back 

Am I always going to wear these scars cause like the soilder who's home so long but doesn't known how to stop fighting or what to fight for 

Is there a difference between need ...

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Maybe

Maybe one day I do something of note 

Maybe I finally wrote that great stroy 

Maybe it's all written in the stars 

Lately have Been think I need to move on 

I hear a voice from the ghosts of my yerstaday pass 

It's says pal u got to go you need to go 

All this worry all this stress 

You invested in people to much 

I smile to meself 

And stá maybe pal your right 

But u...

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Questioning meself

Am I cursed with the extremes or blessed with a balance view 

For on a Monday I care what everybody things of me 

But by Tuesday I have no care for anyone or any of it 

For the jobs a trap. The edcuation is a serious lesson and money is what keeps me engaged with al institutions

Know I like to mention al along I said I was angel 

Have I an questionable past?  Maybe

Have I robbed ...

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Let me be

Oh if there's a place between earth and space where the Divine live and only the good get in 

If these old battle wounds and scar's lead me where the river flow and the angels fky 

Oh god if this place exists don't land me there just yet 

For I have people to care for 

Battles to win an inner pace to be found 

So sorry god if you came calling let's make a deal to just let me be for ...

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I must be fine

Dealing with myself and that comes with me is a hard deal 

The addiction issue the paranoia the insuctity indecision and the overwhelming need to please it's a heavy mountain to climb

I like to mention that shyness mix with the need to be centre of attention cause so much conflicted 

It would be so hard of I could switch of this hyper aware mind it' strip's me down tears me apart 

But ...

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Don't fancy it

Some mornings I wake up and I just don't fancy it 

Don't fancy the rushing don't fancy the shouting the game playing the trying the please and all the in between 

So I lie in the bed thing of excuses to get out of my head 

I think will I ring in sick set around the house with me tea and cigarettes look out the window and all the people just going up and down and maybe I through my head ou...

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Mad thoughts

Many man have said a interesting thing or two 

One small step and I have a dream comes to mind 

But it's early-ish in the morning and am struggling for inspiration things are falling apart

My mind's tried and spirit is fading 

Oh maybe my heart be taken or do I just believe in to many silly ideas

Maybe I should have a dream 

Maybe I should go to the moon I might get some space th...

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Where do I go

Oh I still believe in myth's and god's 

Still believe in mankind still carry on despated to see the good in the world worse fool me 

I where do I go for real when the world seems so fake 

We can I go for a bit of old fashioned truth 

When the world living in dunlision 

Oh where do I go when my heart broken and the tears just won't flow 

Where do I go 

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Dream

I had a dream bay it had me and you, two small kids a house on the beach with piece of mind claim sea and blue sky 

In this dream their was no homeless or illness no addiction so the two of us will be free no suffering either 

A dream were love is a cure for all and problems are few and few between 

But as nice as this dream was it was just a dream so till I make it all come through me an...

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Care for you

I known the future looks blink baby 

I understand the fear I understood that will to go on may be in sort supply

But we can't go back 

Can't changed the hands of time nor can we rewitre the past to suit are self 

But bay of you can put your feet on the floor each day I promise I keep you grounded 

Andd if your heart begins the break I be der with tea and toast and a kind world 

I...

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Oh it's hard

Oh the craving to run has once again enter my feet 

Oh negative thoughts are doing the best to corrupt my mind 

Oh it's hard telling the coward inside to be brave 

Telling the world to be positive for the one I love 

When the torror is bubble behind the surface 

To gain some level of control is to let go some would think 

But it's holding to the hope that all my crazy thoughts mi...

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Am Okay

Oh o often have this chat with meself it goes like this 

Are you okay??

Am okay 

Are you really??

Well if am being honest my heart is slowly running out of hope 

My mind is dark 

My eyes the window to one's soul is full with disprair 

My confidence taken 

And my self worth dropping my the day 

But honesty am okay

 

 

 

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A jobs lot

As I go from stop to stop the feelings of despair begin to creep up on me as I get closer to the place that's slowly taken my soul away

On my route to spend eight hours with people who just take take 

A fair days work for a fair days pay 

But theirs no fairness here 

It's just a emotional jungle 

Where the animals are all out for then self's 

A place where your heart on display 

...

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Me and my job

Where equal or were not 

You want us to be on the same page but how can that be when you always misread the situation 

Just because your pretty doesn't mean am stupiet 

For Al this toxic tension ain't doing anybody any good 

You see one day I take me jacket light a smoke on my way out the door and that will be me and the front line done

Honestly am exhausted their no more left to gi...

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Please don't go

To be one with God that's the aim 

But I never come close to the divine

But I imagine it's like lying next to you 

When I close my eyes and imagine are old age together that's me heaven 

For it was your light I was searching for when I was in the dark 

It was your life I curved when I felt dead 

The live my life don't deserted me know 

Your life is the one war I be willing to ...

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Fed up

Heal me fed me doing something cause am wearing thin

They say am worth my weight in gold 

Well the value dropping 

And am feeling shame

Flying on auto ploit

Hitting the ground everyday 

It's only feelings that's what they say

But who comforted me when the nights are long amd my head is full of compliments 

Praying for the sun to shine in 

Praying for the ocean water 

...

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Dream

I want memories, not medals

I want passion and love  

Not awards and status

Hey Mr boss man just because am good at what I do doesn't mean you can have my time  

Cause lately I been having a dream

Not about money or fortune 

Not about boats or yachts 

But a dream where am free 

Free from depression and despair 

Free from the hands of time and the aniextiy inside 

To h...

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Hide brokenness

Hello pal, you okay bud, you alright great to see you 

Am friends with everyone 

A chramer, a smiler,a real disco dancer a real nice guy 

I have all the qualities am likabke all a round

generous to a fault, Nothing can get me down so they think 

But you wouldn't believe that the life of the party is dieing inside his on the brink

My crown is begin to slip, I love a drink 

One ...

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War within

On and on 

The voices in my head are getting louder

The fight for happiness is real 

Real hard is getting over your self 

Reall hard to love the one's am supposed to love

I get told I look like a swan on a lake

In reality am more like a brick on the Ocean 

Am no hidden treasure 

Just a confused lad who struggle to grow up 

I think I identify as a soilder because am alway...

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My problem

I once was so high I thought about what was in the sky 

What was so funny about that 3 year experience was I didn't think about flying till I come down 

My  problem was unmeasurable pain mix with just the right about if delusion 

I was just right for picking and I was sold on addiction. My choice where never good

To be fair this when you could buy pills over the counter 

Oh god I st...

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I used to

An not use to hot dinners or even tea on the morning table 

An so use to rejected that accepted all the love you give can be hard 

I was use to the dull grey fellingdays u had before you decide to brighten up my day for this I am grateful 

And I know there's loads of blokes just like me 

But your one in million 

A diamond that sparks bright then the morning sun 

You woke my soul ...

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I wish

I wish I could be fit and health 

I wish I could tell a story 

I wish I could stop smoking 20 

I wish my head didn't feel so heavy 

I wish my heart wasntbso empty 

I wish I alot things never come to be 

Sometimes I even wish not to be 

But most of all I wish I could accept live 

To be able to hold you in mu embrace 

Without the fear of terror 

Or the merniones of past...

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A journey

I was heart broken and headmelted 

So I jump on a train 

I just needed to get away 

I needed a bit of space 

I had been rushing abit 

I Owed money all over the place

That's when I bump into an old man 

He ask son why you look so down 

So with a anger head I explain that state I was in 

He reply with 

You see son it's all be done before

See the grass and the tress t...

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Will you

If I fall from grace 

If I lose my place

If I the gained of nine to five takes me out 

Wil you remember my smile

Will you remember how much I tryed

Will you remember the time we got so drunk we almost died 

Will you hold on to me 

Or suddenly let me go 

Will I fade in your morany

Or we I live forever 

Or if all this doesn't happened 

Will you make me happy for one ...

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Put it down

It's okay son

Daddy's drunk again

Do what I say not what I do 

Ders more banging and shouting in the house tonight

Ma has having a break down she doesn't know what to do 

More kids lost to the Monday club 

No money for extras

No way of redoing the truma

Oh one more he shuts

But at what cost

It's an on going circle 

It's an on going pain that's clear to see 

Oh i...

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Tried

Am tried 

I can't stop the feeling of crying 

As a man this ain't good 

Get up you bum 

Provide for these you love 

The vices getting louder the worrys getting bigger 

Stát with mé Bay things be good oh I wish I could believe that 

My outer shell beams with conviced and believed 

A checky smile a funny joke 

Oh thank god I think they are buying it 

Oh if they only kno...

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See me love me

Can you see the pain am in 

I haven't been living in the spiritual light 

Know things are getting dark 

My souls fading away I dunno why 

Please Bay don't be blind, will you see the state of me 

Please Bay dont difrt away 

I really do believe it's your love will save my day 

Save my mind 

Help me not to be blind 

And lead lead me out of the shadow I have been living behi...

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Faith

God can you give us a break 

I feel I having got a friend in the world 

And the love you sent me is trun on me 

Am confused am loss 

Am drowning without the booze 

This is very different to what ever we did before 

Who thought living without the prison would be so hard 

Am going on like a over grow child 

I see hate in mirror 

I see disappointed everwhere I go 

And re...

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the boxing match

the addict mind is wonderful an weird place 

its as fearfull as erratic 

its jealous and loving 

its where he madnes lives and grows 

for when focus and presant its a previlge to be hold 

but under the influance of the emeny 

he or she may exploded 

and like a explosion there will be troube and there will be rumble 

for a addiction its a breast that fly so high only to catc...

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Time

Am running out of patients

Running out of time 

Theses old feet are tried

My mind cloudy

I think am still in a dream

Is it all a dream 

If so I need to wake up 

Need to get up 

Am running out pages to write this old sorty

Regret is a feeling worth avoiding

I feel battered

For defeat is around the corner

I feel the soil creeped up around my earthly body 

Am ru...

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Back home to you

My Bay the one I love 

Times a ticking by and by 

Time is flying bye 

I get tí make some money 

Got to get our life together 

Got to go to mass 

All this depans in who I listen to 

Am trying to see through to fog 

Trying to see through the politic smoke 

Trying to back it back home to you 

My life in you hands 

My mood depaning in yours 

My dreams are entwine wi...

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Back home to you

My Bay the one I love 

Times a ticking by and by 

Time is flying bye 

I get tí make some money 

Got to get our life together 

Got to go to mass 

All this depans in who I listen to 

Am trying to see through to fog 

Trying to see through the politic smoke 

Trying to back it back home to you 

My life in you hands 

My mood depaning in yours 

My dreams are entwine wi...

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A latter to the passed

If I come back home 

Tell you all of where my soul has been 

If I can back and told you all the pain have been in

Tell you I left to soon

Left before it really began 

What would you do 

Would you tell me a sorty of how ever thing will be okay 

Would you tell me you been waiting for me 

Would you ask me who I am tell me the boy that left isn't the man that come back 

Woul...

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