PANDEMIC ART / PAGE 11

PAGE 12 / STIR ISSUE TWENTY TWO

In a Daze

I was the little girl in a daze So alone when in my headspace Not wantin ’ to know you or wantin ’ to care Now climb my barriers if you dare

I ’ ll draw you in and make you love me Then , I ’ ll rip your heart out and leave you bleeding And begging for my help So now you need me ?

But I don ’ t need you , you ’ re such a fool You fell for a girl with a heart of stone Still in a daze But not so alone

Kerryanne Greenock

Letter to your 14yr old self

Awryt young yin . Hows the form ? Just thought id batter yi a wee letter tae let yi know am back in the jail . I hope yir well n stikin in at school n at getting ready for yir exams . If yi kin dae at n leave school wae some qualification n get yirsel a decent job . A wish ad done at honestly bro I left school way nuthin and was sent tae prison a week after ma 16 ^th birthday . When I got out I started seein a lassie but I didn ’ t really change .

I stayed out noo n again bouncing in n oot the jail for years like a bam . After aboot ten yrs she had enough when I was locked up again , n tae b honest I coudnae really blame her . No long after that ma da died in between that I had been stabbed around 20 times and had been shot but after ma da died I just went aff the rails getting oot ma nut every day . When I was 30 ma wee daughter was born n that should really have been the makin of me but aboot 2 weeks later a wiz bk in the jail .

When I got oot a spent some time wayher before getting MWI again . A few months later a was back in the jail , maybe if ad stuck in at school n at things wid have been different . Wit im tryin tae say bro is don ’ t dae wit a done mate . It ’ s no worth the pain I put maself through , getting the jail this time is the best thing that ever happened tae me . It saved ma life , noo I ’ m attendin education n getting masel some qualifications , alcohol n drug free n just feeling really good aboot maself probably for the first time in ma life .

Lewis Grampian it anymore am fed up fighting way people . I ’ ve been dain this fae I was your age n I don ’ t want you makin the same mistakes I did . Looking back I had trials for Glasgow and Scotland fitba teams and I wish I ’ d have stuck in but I chose the madness . Don ’ t get me wrong I had a ball but I definetly wouldn ’ t recommend anyone to follow my path coz noo im 41 n I ’ m attending psychological help tae try and rebuild ma life .

It diznae have tae be that way for you , you ’ re a smart kid n a know uv got this never mind wit your pals are dain . You just stick in at the fitba n stick in at school , make sure you sit your exams n you ’ ll be absolutely fine . Take care of yoursel and speak soon , good luck brother .

Francis Barlinnie

1 . TYSON

Craig Shotts Oil on Canvas

2 . STAYCATION HOME

Gary Dumfries Mixed Media

3 . PRESENT FOR MUM

Marc Dumfries Clay Sculpture

4 . ELEMENTS

Justin Dumfries Canvas & Stencil

Neil Greenock

Their Dog

Where have you gone Dad ? Not being able to find you . Is making me sad . I miss you saying , “ Goodnight ”, As you turn off our bedroom light , Daddy number 2 doesn ’ t seem quite right , He sometimes cries in bed at night . I cry too . When I look at the photo of you , I have a photo above my bed , But I wish you was here instead . I don ’ t understand what is going on , All I know is that you are gone . I hear daddy 2 say , “ I love you Boo ,” And I know that it ’ s meant for you .

6 7

5 . THE REGATTA

James Shotts Acrylic on Canvas

6 . NURSE COVID

Andrew Edinburgh Pastels

7 . HUMAN SPACE

Ian Low Moss Acrylic & Spray Paint

8 . RED

Joseph Low Moss Oil Painting

5

Blether

I used to love meeting with my mates , chewing the fat Putting the world to rights , discussing this and that Now I have to put up with a constant blether Who has a view on everything , and an expert on the weather ? As soon as his eyes open , the blethering starts With a wide knowledge of nothing , his wisdom he imparts On & on & on he goes a never-ending noise I know whose ears are getting a rest , “ his wife and his boys !” I put the tv on for something for us both to see But as usual he has seen that , done that , been there , me , me , me I try to get some respite , I go to read my book “ What ’ s that you ’ re reading mate ? Can I have a look ? I once read some books that were similar to that ” Admitting defeat I put it down as he continues his chat Duracell batteries couldn ’ t outlast his squawking Like me they ’ d never get a word in or mute his talking From early morning until we put out the light My ears are bleeding , listening to all his s **** Apart from not getting a word in , I suppose that he ’ s ok I know I ’ ll get my voice back , when I leave here one day I ’ ll blether all the way home when I get through the gates Nobody will get a word in I ’ ll be blethering to my mates .

3

Allan Edinburgh

Grimm by Name and Nurture

Snow White , Aschenputtel and The Goose Girl , Grimm fairy tales of violence and greed Enrapt we read and let the tales unfurl As Jacob and Wilhelm ’ s dark secrets breed .

Hansel and Gretel to dark forest ran Where a house of all sweet things there they saw An evil witch , with who we are no fan , With appetite for siblings cooked from raw .

To visit Gran did go Red Riding Cap , Where naughty Wolf did munch her head to toe . Jack up his beanstalk saw the Giant nap Before being chased with Fee and Fi and Fo .

Bedtime stories to little children told To help nightmares into their dreams unfold .

To a Moose

The wee ‘ timid ’ flippin ’ moose , Ah wid lik to splatter aboot the hoose So ah wid ! Chase the wee ‘ timid ’ flippin ’ moose Oot a that hoose instead . The wee ‘ timid ’ moose .

Andrew Glenochil

Fur awe that , the wee ‘ timid ’ moose wid escape The splatters awe that hoose . Fur awe that , the wee ‘ timid ’ moose Wid gan free Frum that hoose Tae live another day . 0 , that wee ‘ timid ’ moose !

Anon Low Moss

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4 l Miss You

John Dumfries

l want you here to say the things l should have said when you were here . l want to hold you near to me Smell the essence in your hair . l want to make you laugh out loud To music that you ’ ve never heard . l want to see you dressed up in clothes you ’ ve never worn . l want to see you ride in cars You never thought possible l want to see you cry To sad songs that you ’ ve never heard l want you to see me How I ’ ve turned my life around l want to say I ’ m sorry For the grief that l have caused For that time l put my hand on you l ’ d want to make amends for that l want you here to argue with To hear your point of view To see you try and get the remote To make your meals for you But I can ’ t have that l can only dream That ’ s when I always see you For you were taken long ago l want to say I miss you l think about you everyday And in my heart I ’ m buoyant To get these words sent to you I ’ ll find a good clairvoyant

Brian Barlinnie