Searching For Love... Poem by Sacha Wise

I learnt love from the guy who loved me

I didn't want to be with him

    But still he loved me

I learnt heart break from the guy whom I loved

He didn't want to be with me

    But still I loved him

I learnt hostility from the guy I married

I learnt patience

    But he said he had never loved me

I will stop searching for love in basements

under stairs, in cupboards and on book shelves

Where instead all I find is dust and cobwebs

   and empty space. I will start recognising 

love when I see it and not fall for it's easier, 

uglier sister, who is more like 

a well meaning brother

     I will find you 

Or you will find me

Because like love 

we are meant to be together

I will 

one day 

love you

Interview with Poetical Tv about Domestic Violence, Dyslexia and my Inspirations

Poetical Tv: So what was the inspiration behind you writing your poem "Cover Me With Lace And Not Bruises"? 

Sacha: Well, I had to write a piece for a show 'Say Sum Thin 4' at the Nottingham Playhouse to perform as part of the Mouthy Poets collective. I had come out of a domestically violent relationship six months earlier and I remember sitting on my bed thinking it would be great if I would be able to speak about what I have experienced and not be ashamed about it. I know many women feel ashamed once they come out of domestically violent relationships due to the nature of the dynamics of being in such an unhealthy relationship. The violent partner tends to convince the other partner that the behaviour is all their fault. So they either stay in the relationship thinking they deserve this behaviour or leave the relationship often with low self-esteem making them prone to wanting to go back to the relationship. They feel worthless with no voice that is worth listening to. So as I sat upon my bed I made the decision to speak about what I had experienced even though I too was a bit ashamed at the time as well. I knew on some level if I ever wanted to help anyone else who had experienced anything remotely similar then I would have to be brave and speak up. I am so glad I did as now it is clear to me that any violent actions are fully accountable by the person who made the decision to be violent or aggressive. As it is a choice they made.

Please read the rest of the interview by clicking this link

Sacha Wise's Interview with Poetical Tv

What It Is To Care For Someone Regardless If They Care Back

Life has thrown some rocks at me

But I know I should be the bigger person and look at my scars like I am lucky that they are only that. 

Still I wonder.

What it is to care about someone very deeply. 

It is almost like you can't get me vex (Trini term for angry) unless I care for you in a deep way. You cannot get me in a flood of tears unless I know your worth me crying over you with them. 

There are some people I meet on my journey that I want to carry with me wherever I go because they are genuinely nice but due to practicalities it may not possible. 

I think I should start a 'nice people' appreciation club, that way regardless of if they come with me or not on my journey, they can know that I appreciate them and want good things in their life. 

Feelings are momentary (and can sometimes be wrong) but appreciation of something or someone lasts a lifetime. 

The people who I feel are on my 'I will appreciate you for a lifetime list'... I feel like it doesn't matter how much time has gone by since we last spoke, seen each other or the stuff that's happened between us. If you are still that same person with the same heart, then will appreciate you and time will have no bearings of that. 

I must say it is hard to get on this list, but it's even harder to get off. 

You don't have to speak to me often, or ever, but if you ever do again then it would be like no time has passed. I will fight to keep you in my life but life has a funny way of causing ripples and making some people float away. 

It's ok. Then you will be in my dreams and the piece you gave me would be in my ambitions and as I reach my goals I will be getting closer to you and to what your presence made me.

Those you who are still here I appreciate 'us' greatly. Things you can do when you have a friend by your side.

I suppose this post is to my friends. All of you who are still mine and those who are someone else's.