Creativity can be a powerful way to express experiences that are often difficult to put into words. For many survivors and families affected by abuse, poetry and art can open conversations that might otherwise remain unspoken.

Recently, the founding director of PEGS Support, Michelle John, had her poetry recognised as part of an initiative created by Living Keys, a charity supporting survivors of domestic abuse through community, creativity and empowerment.

From a Personal Moment to a Wider Audience

Michelle originally wrote the poem during one of the most difficult periods in her  personal journey. It was never intended to be shared.

However, during the PEGS Conference last year, held on Child to Parent Abuse Awareness Day, there was a segment dedicated to poetry written by parents and carers who had experienced child-to-parent abuse.

As someone who has always stood alongside the families PEGS supports, Michelle chose to share something deeply personal.

What happened next was unexpected.

Parental figures impacted by child-to-parent abuse shared how strongly the poem resonated with their own experiences. Professionals working in the sector said it helped them better understand the complex emotions families face.

Following the conference, a member of the PEGS board nominated Michelle’s poem for a creative initiative run by Living Keys, which invited survivors to submit poetry and artwork reflecting their lived experiences.

A Gathering of Survivor Voices

Michelle was invited to attend a special event at Peterborough Cathedral alongside other survivors whose work had been selected as part of the project.Her poem was awarded third place in the competition and has now been included in a published collection celebrating the creativity, courage and resilience of survivors who have chosen to share their stories through art and poetry.

The book brings together voices that might otherwise remain unheard, helping readers understand the emotional realities behind experiences of abuse and survival.

For Michelle, the recognition was unexpected,  but the opportunity to raise awareness about child-to-parent abuse made the moment even more meaningful.

Michelle’s Poem

Dear You

I don’t know when we started speaking to each other through walls instead of across tables.

I don’t know the exact day my shoulders began to tense at the sound of your voice,

Or when I started measuring my words like I was stepping barefoot on broken glass.

I miss you.

Not the you that’s here now though I love you still

But the you who used to lean into me for hugs,

Who laughed so hard it lit up the room,

Who trusted me enough to be gentle.

Some days, I feel like I’ve lost you.

And then I see your face and I’m reminded you’re right here.

It’s a strange kind of loss – to mourn someone who still leaves their shoes by the door.

I hold onto hope.

Hope that this is not where our story ends,

That one day, you’ll lay your armour down,

And I’ll be able to meet you there –

In the quiet place where love feels safe again.

I’ll be waiting.

Not without hurt.

Not without scars.

But with my arms ready,

Because they have always been yours.

Love, Mum

Michelle’s Reflection;

“I wrote this poem during one of the darkest times, and it was never meant to be shared. At our conference we invited parents we support to share their own poetry, and because I’ve always said I stand alongside them, I chose to share something deeply personal too.

I never expected the response it received. Parents told me it reflected exactly how they felt, and professionals said it helped them understand the emotional reality of child-to-parent abuse.

Seeing it now shared more widely through this initiative is incredibly meaningful, because if it helps even one person feel understood or helps someone better understand what families experience, then it has served its purpose. Most importantly, it helps bring greater awareness to child-to-parent abuse.”