Is There No Hope? Poem by margaret haig

Is there no hope? For me, said the lady in debt,
Talking to a counsellor, whom she had just met;
I can't help myself, I love to buy everything I see,
I just don't know how to cope, so can you help me?
Well we together will find out, soon, the problem no longer be.

The counsellor said lets write out a plan for you,
We need to get around this, and fix it too;
So! What is it you think first we can try;
The lady said. When I get upset, I will go and buy,
Then the counsellor said, what is causing you to cry.

The lady let go, I've been bullied and pushed around,
When at high school, Was given names, with a funny sound;
They made so much fun, I had no friends at all,
Maybe they saw my size in my weight was not small.
she realized it was then, she took to eating to make it go away.

Right said the counsellor, does it still happen today,
Do others you are near, still nasty to you in a way?
If so! What if you wear dark glasses at first when you're out,
And try listening to a radio, so you don't hear them shout;
Then think of something special you like to do.

Next time the lady met the counsellor to talk again,
The counsellor asked how do you feel, please explain;
The lady we'll name sue, if this is your name, I'm not talking of you,
Sue said I saw those ones who tease me, but didn't know,
Because I wore the glasses, and combed my hair so my face didn't show.

So then the counsellor said, how do you feel, with yourself today,
You look much brighter, and happier, do you feel this way?
Sue said a little better, but I can't stop going to the shops to buy,
Things I don't really need, but I need help so then I cry;
The counsellor said, what if you find a hobby you can try.

So sue went to art shops, libraries, and book shops too,
Looked for a hobby that won't waste money, which I do;
She thought of craft, and found the cost was far too much,
Thought of collections, then said it'll a wrong touch;
Then she thought of fishing, but if a hook gets caught, oh ouch.

She went back with a glow on her face, she had something to say,
The counsellor saw something different, she was in a happier way;
Sue said, I have a garden I put new flowers in it yesterday,
And I've joined a careers group, to visit the old folk, and the ill,
And take the flowers from my garden, to give, better than a pill.

Now I feel better, and the exercise I get doing gardening too,
I listen to others and cheer them, when their tears do flow;
I'm not putting stuff in my home that I don't need,
And with the flowers, I get some new seed;
So with this help, she has become stronger each day,

If you have a problem, like sue today,
There is one thing, you can go to God and pray;
Then try these ideas that you have read.
Find something you like to do if you need;
Then it'll take your mind off the problem, and you'll be okay.