This is a poem by Lucy Cathcart Frödén, who is a regular collaborator on our In Tune project, and also a member of the Distant Voices Research Team. 'Two Rooms' was written in response to her work with In Tune. 

Pale fingers clutch coffee

Lemon yellow paint peels

There’s a draught

And a plate of digestives

Wan faces commune

Share stories of being

Sleepless, puked on, eye-poked

While wrangling

The most unwilling of arms

Into bright sleeves

At the toddler group

In a different room

Behind many doors

Parents stand around

As small hands beat drums

Small ankles flex and bounce

And I notice their eyes

The dads, undistracted

They burn and sparkle

Drinking in

Unsteady movements and giggles

Transfixed, glowing

They are not weary of this.