The young person has received 5 ‘Highly Commended’ Certificates for work submitted in addition to this £25 prize which is a brilliant achievement.
For almost 60 years the Koestler Awards have played a unique role in motivating secure hospital patients to take part in opportunities for developing and discovering talents across the broad spectrum of the arts. The aim is to enable patients to lead more positive lives by motivating them to participate and achieve in the arts and celebrate through individual feedback from experts in their chosen medium of arts.
Excel and Exceed School is the specialist provider of education for all young people admitted to Cygnet Hospital Bury.
Attached is the poem for which the young person was awarded their prize.
Happy Birthday
The awkward feeling you get when everyone around you is singing the out of tune ‘happy birthday’ song.
11th birthday
I blow out my candles.
“Make a wish” they say
“I wish to be a princess”
I laugh with genuine happiness
14th birthday
“I wish to be pretty”
I smile, thanking each person for attending my party.
17th birthday, with a cake in front of you, pink wax candles illuminating the dark room,
wax melting onto the pretty yellow frosting. This cake stares at you,
“Easily 500kcal a slice” the voice inside tells me
“Go on, make a wish” family say
“I wish that I never have to do this again.
I wish that I’m not here for my next birthday.
I wish to be dead”
I smile
It’s fake
But they don’t notice
I blow out my candles
Cake is offered to everyone
I say I’m still full from all the pizza I ate
I only ate half a slice
was that too much?
Before you know it
I’m in the hospital
My rib cage crushing my soul
My heart
My love
My passion
Suddenly I feel nothing, like air.
When it turns into my 18th birthday
I blow my candles out from the grave
My family weep from my empty bedroom
I make my wish
They say if you tell someone your wish it won’t come true
That’s how I know I can tell
Because I know it won’t come true
Want to know what my wish was?
I wished for one more chance
Because if I had the chance I would have done it so differently
But it’s too late
The voice in my head sighs
Better luck next time it mutters