Vigil

by Lya Vollering

When we heard in 2021 about the plans of this government to turn the notorious youth prison in Medomsley, Co. Durham (1800 young men, between 17 and 21 years old, were abused there) into a detention centre for women seeking asylum, we went to have a look. We walked around the whole site, and what struck me is that the high walls around it which prevent the women from seeing where they are.

Walls,
so you cannot see,
sister
where you are.
Walls
so we cannot see you,
sister.
What you not see
is not there?
Are you there,
sister?
Do you hear us?
Do you hear our silence,
sister?
We reach through walls.
We walk seven times
around them.
So that they
may fall.

And we will meet.