By Claire McKay & Louis Abbott from Vox Liminis

We were given an open brief to write a song taking inspiration from stories on this website. We were keen to highlight the experiences of a wide breadth of people whilst wrestling a little with the unease of being a mouthpiece for one specific person. With that in mind, and having worked together on a couple of Vox Sessions in prisons, we offered some observations and experiences of our own to add to that of the character we created in the song.

The verses tell quite specific moments from the stories we read on the website as well as the one told through the graphic novel, A Life In Pieces, by Marguerite Schinkel and Morag Kewell. The chorus is more universal and speaks to the hope that everyone has something positive to cling onto during harder moments, whether that be a relationship inside or outside, or even a memory

Plastic Stars

My son, I can’t give you into trouble
It’s funny but I don’t feel I’ve got the right
To scold, to hold you too tight

Young ones, I’m afraid I’m away for a while
I’m sure I’ll be fine but will you? The unlucky ones on the outside

I’ll find time to rehearse what to say and what not to say

Constellations, maps made out of light
Count my lucky plastic stars that you’re on the line
We fill white spaces, Illuminate the night
Dark doesn’t matter when you’re by my side

“What kind of people live in there?” you quizzed
and lifted my spirits

Hope, Clichés on the wall
Fake sun on my skin, former champion
The dancers, the laughter in the halls

And yet I haven’t seen the moon for months
Just primary colours and cherry vapour
And no metaphors for love

I’ll find time to rehearse what to say
What to delete and save

Constellations, maps made out of light
Count my lucky plastic stars that you’re on the line
We fill white spaces, Illuminate the night
Dark doesn’t matter when you’re by my side

Please don’t forget us

My son, I can’t give you into trouble