**trigger warning - baby loss**
In the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve last year I listened to Gary Barlow's autobiography on Audible. He details the devastating loss of his daughter, Poppy, who he revealed was stillborn in 2012.
I can't imagine the pain of losing someone you love so fiercely and yet never got to know. Amanda Holden encountered the same bereavement and she details on her episode of Giovanna Fletcher's podcast how she explained to her young daughter that she wouldn't be getting the little brother she was told about. Her son, Theo, decided to stay in Neverland and be young eternally. That was the narrative she stuck with. Hearing of these losses inspired me to write 'The Lost Boy'.
Goodbye my sweet child,
A child you will stay
In Neverland with Peter
And the Lost Boys you’ll play
You can swim with the mermaids
And duel Captain Hook
Whilst we dismantle the cradle
And shelve the support books
No amount of white feathers
Can wipe away our tears
From now every September
We’ll count your lost years
We keep the night light on
In case you want to visit
No amount of flowers remedy
The pain your loss elicits
Broken we will stay
Constantly questioning why
But high you shall fly with Peter
Your spirit forever in the sky
And whilst clouds awaken us everyday
Sometimes, we see your rainbow in the grey
And whilst Neverland, to us, remains a constant unknown
We’ll always be your second home
I'm really proud of 'The Lost Boy'. I was thinking of Gary and Amanda and their stories on a bus journey home from work and typed the poem into my notes. I sent it to my friend Niamh to get her thoughts and she loved it...though she did challenge me to write a happier poem.
Stay safe out there,
KT
xxx