OUR WINNING POEM

Colleen says: “When I wrote this poem, the news was full of the euthanasia bill debate; I was attending a painting class; and I had nursed my son who passed away from cancer nine years before, and was dealing with ongoing grief. The dream was a combination of what was happening in my life mixed together with the magic of the mind in sleep.” Colleen’s lyrical expression powerfully conveys varied emotions and the two coalesce to create a visceral portrait of a man reaching the end of his life. We taste the blueberries and lime and feel the glow of the sunshine she describes, and the relief when ultimately, his suffering ends.

For details on how to enter the MiNDFOOD Poetry Competition, go to page 127.