How very brave of you Hilary and Becky to confront your demons and bare the rawness of it all to others - you are very brave - and that is perhaps the first step to recovery or at least to containment. So many of us have problems in our own little worlds that we hide away or don't admit to... The poem is well constructed and worthy of the award. I wish you well Becky. x

Well done Becky and very good poem!
Pass on my congratulations will you Hilary - thanks.

Well Becky, this posting and its attendent poem has the ring of 'truth' and immediacy abt it. And no doubt the writing -as difficult as it is- is the easier part of this compact and part of the recovery- and the use of the talent, once realised, becomes a thing in itself, a thing for the fun and tears that maybe are long overdue. I wish Becky a continued and angry and hilarious and thoughtful playment with words. And don't forget to send your Mum a bunch of flowers for the sharing of those words with us!

Tommy

The Koestler Awards are great. They encourage offenders to aspire to be better people.

And I have to say I like the poem. It's not only honest but it's well-constructed (the two don't always go together.)

Congratulations to Betty. I understand there's a small financial award. Buy a bottle of fizzy pop and toast her health with it!

Becky, this is a truly great poem and I am glad you have got that award.
As has been said, your words are from that place where all great writing comes: yourself, your truth.
But it is more than just a piece of truthful, personal writing. Its power is in the fact that it is well-crafted; it engages us, the readers, because we all know those same truths. We all have had times where we struggle for self-control. We all know the could, should, would anguish, even if not all know it to the extent or in the way that you experience it.
And you create such a powerful tension – the counting… fantastic. Well done you both.

Becky I saw your picture and write up in the BEN this week.
I didn`t know anything about you but at the time I thought
" Brilliant, wonderful,I hope in writing poetry it helps her find some peace " it made me feel good too knowing this. Congratulations its a good poem. Thanks Hilary for posting.