Not Today - a poem by Simon Newman
You sent your army after me,
You thought you could destroy me.
I suffered but they couldn’t keep me down,
You made me out to be a clown.
But no… I don’t think so.
You warped my world with hallucinations,
Twisted the truth with complications,
You made me believe things that weren’t real,
Took my soul away and wanted me to kneel.
But no… I don’t think so.
You destroyed everything I held dear,
Clouded my judgement with fear.
You told everyone spiteful lies,
You wanted me to curl over and die.
But no… I don’t think so.
You left me in a state of ill prepare,
To rot without a worry or a care.
But I’m back wand stronger than before,
It seems I have found a cure.
So no… I don’t think so. Not today
Simon Newman or ‘Si’ is a friend of the College, peer support worker for the Early Intervention team, expert by experience co-facilitator of Living well with psychosis workshop. This poem was drafted during the Expressive writing workshop, ran in partnership with the Royal Literary Fund.
Our next cohort of the Expressive writing sessions is due to start in November 2025.
