In the shadows of adversity, a plea emerges,
A whisper carried on the winds of change.
I, David Wakeham, a neurodivergent soul,
Humbly seek solace, a home to call my own.
Through realms of Australia, South Africa, and beyond,
I've tirelessly served, a beacon for the unheard.
In shelters and pounds, a voice for the voiceless,
Mending broken spirits, a balm for the wounded.
Yet now, I find myself adrift, eviction looming,
The weight of complex ailments, a tempest brewing.
cPTSD, ASD, chronic pain, and more,
A labyrinth of challenges, a path untamed.
But in this darkness, a light still flickers,
The unconditional love of my faithful companions.
Boudica, my Tonkinese queen, a regal presence,
Her purrs a symphony, a balm for my essence.
Badger, a tuxedo cat, his fur a flowing river,
A constant companion, his love a gentle quiver.
Rīx, my loyal black cat, a shadow in the night,
His presence a comfort, a guardian of light.
And Missy, the brave pup, who fought tetanus's blight,
Her courage a reminder, to never give up the fight.
Through shared pain and fear, our hearts intertwined,
In each other's solace, true strength we find.
In their gentle gaze, my truest friends reside,
A family's embrace, with love as my guide.
They bring me light when shadows creep near,
A precious connection, reminding me to hold dear.
I seek not just shelter, but a haven of healing,
A sanctuary where shattered pieces can mend.
For in stability lies the strength to rebuild,
To tutor diverse minds, to complete a Master's journey.
Mr. Kitty, an old soul with wisdom deep and profound,
Inspiring my poetry, published a lasting testament to our bond
And Millie, with a zest for life that knew no bounds,
Her legacy a loving reminder that joy truly can be found.
In their eyes, I find the courage to persevere,
To battle the demons that haunt my waking dreams.
For they are not merely pets, but emotional anchors,
A lifeline tethered to hope, a bond that never severs.
So I come to you, dear stranger, with an open heart,
A plea for empathy, a call to action.
Your generosity could be the turning point,
A beacon of light amidst the encroaching void.
Every dollar a step closer to stability,
A chance to continue the noble pursuit of uplifting others.
For in helping those in need, we find our own salvation,
A symphony of survival, a protest against systematic stagnation.
The scent of eucalyptus and petrichor linger,
As the sun dips below the horizon, a fiery finger.
The wind whispers through the gum trees, a hushed lullaby,
Rustling leaves like a thousand gentle sighs.
The soft fur of my companions brushes against my skin,
A tactile reminder of the love that lies within.
Their purrs and barks, a symphony of hope,
A melody that helps me cope.
In this tapestry of life, we are all intertwined,
Our stories woven together, a bond divine.
So please, lend your support, share this tale,
For in unity, we can weather any gale.
Together, we can secure a safe haven,
For a person and their companions, a bond unshaven.
In the darkest of nights, a single spark can ignite,
A flame of hope, a path towards the light.
Amidst the onslaught of festive frenzy,
Neurodivergent minds reel a tempest here to sear.
Senses assaulted, relentlessly vexed,
Christmas chaos leaves us perplexed.
Masking's breaking, taking weight, a suffocating shroud,
Authenticity lost in the neurotypical crowd.
ADHD autism's ache, an adult's disgrace,
So, invisible struggles are present in this merry place.
Pain's persistent, pounding refrain, an endless score,
Fibromyalgia's claws, forever tore.
Spine curved like a question mark,
Vertigo's dance, a dizzying arc.
Poverty's clutch cuts deep, leave plans in disarray,
Opportunities vanish, like mist in the day.
Isolation, depression, chronic cursed alone,
In a world where bonds stretch, then are gone.
Trauma mars, leaves scars, rape's brutal seal,
cPTSD's tortures - terrors forever real.
Triggers flashbacks, a minefield within,
Clock tick-tocks, the night's wearing thin.
Passivity creeps in just like a mischievous elf,
A sinister spirit keeps us captive, steals our self.
Painfully forcing out a cry, on deaf ears they fall,
"You knew they wouldn't", it sneers, "more unanswered calls".
In despair's abyss, hope's flicker dies,
As the world rejoices, behind a joyful disguise.
Countless unseen battles and unheard cries,
Anguish, desperation, pain, do naked eyes lie?
To those who feign concern, a warning rings clear,
Your platitudes and neglect, a deafening sneer.
For in the depths of despair, a reckoning brews,
When the desperate depart, with nothing to lose.
In the sombre, silent night, when alienation reigns,
The psyche buckles, under the weight of its chains.
Remember, you who turned a blind eye,
The blood on your hands as the outcast dies.
So let the silence shatter, let the truth be known,
For the neglected and broken, forever alone.
May their memory haunt, may their absence resound,
A damning indictment, of the help never found.
Silently in the night, isolation's doom looms,
For those left to rot, in desolation's tombs.
A scourge on false kindness, on empathy's dearth,
As the forgotten depart, from this merciless Earth.
A warning to those who still pretend to care,
Of the anguish hidden, behind festive despair's lair.
Family friends forsaken in desolation's night,
Cast aside, ignored as time ticks on, year's plight.
In the silent night, a dirge ascends,
For those struggling, lost at the year's end.
Society's apathy, an unpalatable bitter pill,
Washed down with tears, we fade away against our will.
Let the silence break; let the truth be told,
Of the torment endured, the agony untold.
In summer's sweat, a reckoning should rise,
Power imbalances now, no escape our fate's demise.
May our ghosts haunt the whole season bright,
Reminding us of those for whom this time's a blight.
In the season's glare, coalescing shadows reign,
Numerous reasons, curses feeding this pain.
A moment of stillness, amidst the hurricane,
A flicker of self, in the endless pain.
Battered and bruised, yet still we stand,
In defiance of a world, that refuses to understand.
Whilst it is true, many times I have tried,
But for my animals, it is on me that they rely.
As night follows day and day follows night,
Dark forces frantically fighting, stealing my fight.
Hope's a medicine, both a curse and a sure cure,
Healing if repeatedly given - the source pure.
Decidedly dangerous, deadly, dangled as a prize,
Breaking faith's wraith, soon you and society they'll despise.
A pox on ableism, on empathy's lack,
As we vanish slowly, our lives off-track.
In the silent night, our requiem it plays,
The forgotten ones, left on birthdays and holidays.
Christmas Day Again
Silence. No calls or message
Suicide Beckons
The only time Im a slave is when its for you,
Youre the only one that makes me feel this way,
The cold metal against my hot flesh,
I cant get enough of feeling torn apart,
I try to hide it,
Its my secret,
Its our secret,
The way you feel pushing against me,
The break of the skin under your touch,
Sliding along and watching it open like a zipper,
White flesh with a hint of pink,
You push again,
You unzip more flesh,
The first starts to produce round garnet gems,
Slowly filling the space you made,
A third,
A fourth,
upto ten unzipped pockets,
More and more garnets start to form,
Pretty little gems against the pale white flesh,
A rush of heat through my body,
A burning on my leg,
Not hot like fire,
Just heat without pain,
All of a sudden the garnets run away,
Leaving marks like tears running down my leg,
Somehow theyre hotter than the heat in the area,
Glistening and shiny,
Streaks of garnet running in different directions,
Ah there it is,
There is that feeling you always priomise me,
A shiver runs from head to toe like a ripple,
A wave of calm sets in,
The euphoria released,
I feel content,
I feel satisfied,
I feel numb,
I hold you close to me,
You lay there still and motionless,
Still perfectly clean,
Still razor sharp,
Still gleaming in the weak light,
I feel satisfied,
I feel high,
I feel numb.