‘I met Ricky when I was pretty new on the scene, at my first ever poetry slam at Slamden, Raven Records in Camden. I didn’t really understand what a slam was and did a sad moody poem, made my wife cry and came last! Ricky was so kind and friendly, encouraging me to keep going and trying different things. His poetry is deep, rooted in lived experiences, with stories of survival and personal growth. We connected on family dynamics, especially the complicated relationships between fathers and sons, which you’ll see is a main theme of his article. Ricky’s book “What if We Were Water” is a regular escape for me and it’s one that always teaches me something, about myself or life. His poem “A Falling Knife has no Handle” not only made me more safe in the kitchen but reminded me that rushing into things impulsively can cause injury. A big thank you to Ricky for the lessons and for taking part in the project. Over to him.’ - Tim Foley, Founder, Write Speak Recover
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Ricky
I am a spoken word artist and poet from Essex. Growing up in a household with substance abuse and ignorance towards mental health issues, I found solace in writing and used it as a tool for self-expression and reflection. My writing explores a variety of topics related to mental health, including stigma, recovery, self-care and how important it is to look after each other. In addition to writing and performing poetry, I am a mentor for Lads Need Dads, helping boys aged 11-15 with absent fathers to develop life skills and emotional expression. My goal is to create a more compassionate and inclusive world for those who are struggling with mental health challenges. Through my poetry and my work with Lads Need Dads, I hope to inspire others to seek help, speak out, and find healing and hope in their own lives. My debut poetry collection “What If We Were Water” is available now from Earth Island Books.
The Kindest Thing
She caught my eye as I watched pedestrians passing by.
She was a whisper on a rollercoaster ride, smiling as she sketched the scene outside.
That’s the first thing we’re drawn to,
a smile in the mouth of someone else.
We don’t always notice when
they’re outworn or worn down,
but it can be the kindest thing
we can offer to a stranger.
Waving her wrist, she welcomed the city
onto the page, carefully choreographing
her ball point pen. Doodles are seldom
displayed in fancy frames, perhaps she’d say,
but I think there’s something so honest
about creating art without the ability to erase.
I saw beauty hiding in the plainest sight.
It was like she was designed just for me to find
and pick up lines have never really been my style.
All I wanted was her name.
“I’ll be Bonnie, and you’d be Clyde,”
she might say, waiting for her partner in crime.
Spontaneity doesn’t have to be a murder spree.
Was she searching for someone to sink her
teeth into? Perhaps she, too, knew the taste
of escaping heartbreak. No longer tethered,
we could piece each other back together.
Forever isn’t on the cards so why is it so hard
just to ask for her name?
This was no Cupid scheme, no ‘meant to be’ scene
you’d see on a TV screen or in magazines.
I wonder if there was something I could have changed.
Maybe I made hand grenades from daisy chains,
but truth is sometimes an ugly stutter in our throats
and it’s too late by the time it claws its way toward escape.
This was when I learnt that recovery comes
gradually, how it scatters through every chapter.
Even the most broken of piano keys are still
worthy of a symphony.
She left like a thief unaware of what she stole,
before an introduction could unfold. Her smile
was the kindest thing she’d done that day.
I just wish I’d learnt her name.
On the writing process
As a young man, I was unable to understand or express my emotions in a healthy way. My father was not a good person, my mother only grew inwards, and my siblings and I had a difficult childhood because of this. I started to write behind closed doors, believing my parents would disapprove and my friends would make fun of me. I started to write more in my twenties, but it was a failed relationship that made me acknowledge I need to understand myself better. I knew I would need to be more open to do this.
It has been an incredible journey since I accepted this. I now understand how to express myself in a healthy way, which has allowed me to be a better partner, friend and role model to the younger people in my life. It has allowed me to feel more confident in my role as a mentor with Lads Need Dads, providing support for school boys with absent fathers. Additionally, I find I have more support in my life than ever before. I now recognise when to ask for help and have a fantastic network of people I can reach out to.
The writing process is complex and hard to explain. It’s often like I am writing from the perspective of my teenage self, where I felt paralysed by anxiety and depression. Now that I am in my thirties, I don’t feel this way as often, but it has highlighted how important it is for younger people to understand how to express their emotions in a healthy way, particularly boys. It can have an incredible effect on an individual's upbringing, influencing trauma, addiction, personal ambitions and the way they treat others.
My mission statement with my writing is to help others in the way I needed when I was a young man. This world is full of ups and downs, we do not always have to be strong and we do not have to do it alone.
Favourite poets, poetry nights, books or other resources
Leon the poet is a fantastic poet and incredible human being, who has an ongoing poetry podcast (Leon the poet podcast) and a past project called A hug from the moon.
I’m also a big fan of Georgie Jones. Her writing is comforting and kind, and she is effortlessly funny too.
My favourite poetry night is Poetry @ Patch in Colchester, run by Essex Poetry Collective. Special mentions needed for Poet’s Palace and Mind Over Matter events, where the atmosphere has always been electric!
Write Speak Recover, in collaboration with TheNeverPress is an open, free collection of original portraits of poets using their art to find strength in their recovery journey from any form of dis-ease.
We invite you to follow Write Speak Recover on Instagram and to reach out to Tim Foley at WSR or us directly at the zine to learn more, or put yourself forward to be featured in this initiative.
Hit the logo for more Write Speak Recover content 👇
If you need support, here are some resources:
Samaritans
Alcohol Change
Recovery Dharma
Alcoholics Anonymous
This article was brought to you by Tim Foley and edited by Gabby Spearing
We're constantly on the look out for new artists, creatives and initiatives to feature in TheNeverZine - so if you are, or know someone who is going their own way and doing their own thing on their own terms and would be a good fit to feature please smash that button below and get in contact. By talking to each other, and sharing our journeys, ideas and insights on creativity, art, mental health and resilience we can all create, share and thrive together. Nice thought that.
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