A Man of Flowers and Acquainted With Grief

If my story was a book it would be a paperback. 

A Life a Loan. It would be cheaply made, 

aged with neglect. It would have a broken spine. 

Pages would spill out randomly 

if anyone picked it up.

If my story was a poem the rhymes would be strained 

and the imagery bleak.

The metaphors would be relentlessly morose.

The reader would turn against me 

long before the final stanza. 

My story could not be a soap-opera. Nothing happens.

If it was a documentary 

it would be on C4 

late at night 

with much made of the few sordid bits.

If it was a song 

it would be a Leonard Cohen 

without the love. If a film, 

it would be called A Man of Flowers and Acquainted With Grief 

with an indeterminate ending.

Al Morgan 

Our What's Your Story? participants  have kindly donated their work to help inspire you to write down your thoughts as part of our 'Mental Health & Me' writing competition. 

You can find out more about our competition here. Keep in touch with our blog to read more of their brilliant writing.