Compassion Summer 2023

9 tcf.org.uk Sunlight in my universe I thought I saw you In the distance today Your face in the crowd Then you drifted away I thought I heard you Speaking to me today Your voice clear and loud Then it drifted away I sit in your room With four walls and a ceiling The plaster is cracked The paint now is peeling It’s not just a room It’s a room that is yours Your books on the shelf Folded clothes in the drawers I borrow some words Of a Clapton song verse You are the sunlight In my universe Could I reach the stars Find you there to see Could I change the world Bring you back to me I know I see you Shining brightly today The strength of your light Sends my darkness away I used to be a reasonably organised person with not particularly interesting routines surrounding household chores. Wednesday tended to be my day for hoovering which I would do whilst listening to music through my headphones and singing. It became a standing joke that my three children would avoid being around so as not to suffer the noise of the hoover along with my singing. On the 22nd September 2019 we suddenly and unexpectedly lost our Joe three days after his 23rd birthday. Our lives became unrecognisable. Having never done so before I started writing poetry. I would also walk for miles listening to music through my headphones but not singing… I felt too sad to sing and could hardly speak in the early days which I am sure is something that any bereaved parent or sibling can resonate with. Poetry and music became and remain my salvation. In September last year I joined a local choir, The London Soul Choir, along with my daughter Annie. My friend Alison had suggested I join the choir some time ago, but I didn’t have the courage to do so. I came away from the first choir session feeling really uplifted. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. Even though it takes me out of my comfort zone, singing has helped me realise that it is possible to have fun. I often rehearse in Joe’s room and find it comforting. One of the songs we sang last year was ‘Change The World’ by Eric Clapton and it inspired me to write a poem which I call ‘Sunlight In My Universe’. It seemed significant as Eric Clapton is also a bereaved parent. It is now coming to the end of my second term. During this time, not only have I had fun, I have made new friends, learnt new songs, sung in public performances, auditioned and been selected to sing in a smaller chamber choir. To quote our choir leader, Abi, ‘singing can be healing; sing when you are happy, sing when you are sad.’ My heart breaks every day without our Joe. The loss and devastation will be with our family always and forever. The grief journey is never ending. I have found singing with other people to be cathartic and would recommend it. ‘What is the worst that can happen?’ is something that I frequently say, so what if you forget a word or don’t quite reach a high note. It is worth giving it a go. If I can, anyone can, and singing is certainly good for the soul. If I ever learn how to write music, I might even turn one of my poems into a song.... Sing when you are happy, sing when you are sad by Safina Powell COMPASSION | YOUR STORIES & POEMS