Poem of the week : Press Release

Press Release

There is a rush at the supermarket for anxiety tablets.
There is a rush on for diagnosis at the morning clinic.
Everyone is gravely sick.

Nightly parent’s dissolve painkillers into a glass of water
and drink from it hungrily before passing the glass
to their children.

The use of the word trauma has increased like a popular song.
The word stress has been squeezed and squeezed
until you could not squeeze the bitterness out of it.

Extended periods of happiness
are grossly underrepresented in the press.

Distrust is on the rise. We’re triple locking our doors.
We’re peering through the spyhole.
Everyone is potentially a spy.

The lone smoker on the private stairwell
is nobodies’ guest. We firmly ask strangers
to leave the vicinity.

We dare not publicly admit anything.
Speak only of the contents of the shadow
by the light of the therapist alone.

Awakening the multilateral diplomacy of the four heart valves,
is proving tricky. We can only hope a disarming understanding
is reached between hysterical children before bedtime.

Colin McGuire is a poet who has written and performed for years, building a reputation as a dynamic, engaging performer. He is the author of three collections, and has performed in countless poetry cabarets and slam performances across Scotland and the UK. He is currently studying for an MSc in Mindfulness at Aberdeen University. He also teaches and guides mindfulness sessions and workshops as part of his poetry and performance.