Poems by Hellie Hadfield

Deep breath as needle thrums
Laying back my body hums

Another breath, calm quickening pulse
A gulp of coke, lightheadedness

A body lost in day to day
Oftentimes all shut away

Moving to a slurring beat
Foggy head and shuffling feet

Still each day I play a role
But here and now I take control

Fingers play and black ink flows
Around the edges pink skin glows

Design unfurls in blackened whirls
Mixed amongst the skin-white swirls

Of my puzzle, another piece
Relief sweeps, feel deep release

Monotone, a scratch of red
For this new start I proudly bled

Excited now I get to see
This new, improved, created me

A tingle runs down my spine
This body now is truly mine