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Poems from a Runaway
Welcome to Ben Westwood's collection of 60 true-story poems - ‘Poems from a runaway’.
It’s his story of being a teenager in care, and a frequent runaway from the west midlands (UK). Follow him on a journey from ten years old, wandering from town to town before eventually at the age of twelve, finding himself in the east end of London with drug addicts and prostitutes.
A year later he was to be sleeping rough in London’s West end, meeting celebrities and all sorts of folk.
It’s a story with many tragedies, but also comedic moments. Choices that would have only been made with a youngsters thinking, and angels along the way. Predators, friends, heart-warming times and dangerous moments.
Hustles, wind-ups and the way young people entertain themselves along the way. Some moments in life that some may never had knew existed.
Welcome to the runaway story of Ben Westwood - a novel in poetry - ‘Poems from a runaway’.
It’s his story of being a frequent runaway missing from his foster carers and childrens homes back in his west midlands (UK) homelands. Follow him on a runaway journey from ten years old, wandering from town to town before eventually at the age of twelve, finding himself in the east end of London among drug addicts and prostitutes.
Soon later to be sleeping rough in London’s West end, meeting allsorts of people. It’s a story with many tragedies, but also comedic moments. Choices that would have only been made with a youngsters thinking, and angels along the way. Predators, friends, heart-warming times and dangerous moments.
Hustles, wind-ups and the way young people entertain themselves along the way. Some moments in life that some may never had knew existed.A collection of sixty poems of various lengths in story timeline form, this book will guide the reader through the reality of his true-story childhood journey.
Not only a great read and an eye-opener for general book and poetry lovers, but also a must-have resource for foster parents, social workers, mental health support services, homeless services, child advocates, care leavers and anyone that works with young people.
Review snippets.
"Written skilfully as poetic prose, Ben relives his time as a runaway child on the streets but he doesn’t want people to feel sorry for him. If there is one main message, it is the power we all have to make a difference to lives, ‘to never give up on ourselves or others" "A powerful testimony and one that should be read by everybody working with young runaways." Maggie F
" I guarantee you will laugh at some of Ben's antics, be consistently amazed at the strength of his survival instinct (especially during the more sinister episodes he relates) and you might even have your heart broken when you read some of Ben's more poignant and personal observations! This book certainly acts as a reminder that more empathy, compassion, love and humanity are necessary to make the world a better place for us all." Rainbow 1
"The book documents Ben's true life-story from his very earliest memories to the age of 16, when he finally achieves his much sought after freedom from the well-meaning interventions of Children's Social Services. Along the way, Ben describes some gripping moments such as when, at the age of 9, he is first compelled to run away from home and when, age 12, he is locked in the house of a stranger and held at knife-point." "A truly fascinating read that I couldn't put down." Emma
"This is a story of a runaway boy – an example of runaways and homeless people – expressed through the personal experiences of Ben Westwood. The threats, exposure to drug addiction, prostitution, are all encounters Ben has witnessed and are revealed from a destructive and humorous perspective. I can’t imagine a life like this and it is heart-breaking and distressing that many young people live like this in our society." " Like a lot of poetry collections, I find it more rewarding to read the poems in small bursts and consider each poem for its own spirit" Peter - The reading desk.
"It is a must read for anyone who works with youth that are in foster care, group homes and homeless. This holds true not only in Britain but here in the United States. Ben is a gifted writer." Susan Hickey
"A great book honest and heartfelt a genuinely insightful, inspiring and readable book I couldn’t put down." Hirst"An amazing story! highly recommended. It almost felt like the life of a modern day Oliver Twist.I could seriously imagine a film being made of this!Warning: Very difficult to put down once you start reading!!" Neil Paterson (Cover illustrator)
It’s his story of being a teenager in care, and a frequent runaway from the west midlands (UK). Follow him on a journey from ten years old, wandering from town to town before eventually at the age of twelve, finding himself in the east end of London with drug addicts and prostitutes.
A year later he was to be sleeping rough in London’s West end, meeting celebrities and all sorts of folk.
It’s a story with many tragedies, but also comedic moments. Choices that would have only been made with a youngsters thinking, and angels along the way. Predators, friends, heart-warming times and dangerous moments.
Hustles, wind-ups and the way young people entertain themselves along the way. Some moments in life that some may never had knew existed.
Welcome to the runaway story of Ben Westwood - a novel in poetry - ‘Poems from a runaway’.
It’s his story of being a frequent runaway missing from his foster carers and childrens homes back in his west midlands (UK) homelands. Follow him on a runaway journey from ten years old, wandering from town to town before eventually at the age of twelve, finding himself in the east end of London among drug addicts and prostitutes.
Soon later to be sleeping rough in London’s West end, meeting allsorts of people. It’s a story with many tragedies, but also comedic moments. Choices that would have only been made with a youngsters thinking, and angels along the way. Predators, friends, heart-warming times and dangerous moments.
Hustles, wind-ups and the way young people entertain themselves along the way. Some moments in life that some may never had knew existed.A collection of sixty poems of various lengths in story timeline form, this book will guide the reader through the reality of his true-story childhood journey.
Not only a great read and an eye-opener for general book and poetry lovers, but also a must-have resource for foster parents, social workers, mental health support services, homeless services, child advocates, care leavers and anyone that works with young people.
Review snippets.
"Written skilfully as poetic prose, Ben relives his time as a runaway child on the streets but he doesn’t want people to feel sorry for him. If there is one main message, it is the power we all have to make a difference to lives, ‘to never give up on ourselves or others" "A powerful testimony and one that should be read by everybody working with young runaways." Maggie F
" I guarantee you will laugh at some of Ben's antics, be consistently amazed at the strength of his survival instinct (especially during the more sinister episodes he relates) and you might even have your heart broken when you read some of Ben's more poignant and personal observations! This book certainly acts as a reminder that more empathy, compassion, love and humanity are necessary to make the world a better place for us all." Rainbow 1
"The book documents Ben's true life-story from his very earliest memories to the age of 16, when he finally achieves his much sought after freedom from the well-meaning interventions of Children's Social Services. Along the way, Ben describes some gripping moments such as when, at the age of 9, he is first compelled to run away from home and when, age 12, he is locked in the house of a stranger and held at knife-point." "A truly fascinating read that I couldn't put down." Emma
"This is a story of a runaway boy – an example of runaways and homeless people – expressed through the personal experiences of Ben Westwood. The threats, exposure to drug addiction, prostitution, are all encounters Ben has witnessed and are revealed from a destructive and humorous perspective. I can’t imagine a life like this and it is heart-breaking and distressing that many young people live like this in our society." " Like a lot of poetry collections, I find it more rewarding to read the poems in small bursts and consider each poem for its own spirit" Peter - The reading desk.
"It is a must read for anyone who works with youth that are in foster care, group homes and homeless. This holds true not only in Britain but here in the United States. Ben is a gifted writer." Susan Hickey
"A great book honest and heartfelt a genuinely insightful, inspiring and readable book I couldn’t put down." Hirst"An amazing story! highly recommended. It almost felt like the life of a modern day Oliver Twist.I could seriously imagine a film being made of this!Warning: Very difficult to put down once you start reading!!" Neil Paterson (Cover illustrator)
- GenresPoetry
334 pages, Paperback
First published December 11, 2017
2 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
About the author
Ben Westwood
2 books2 followersBen Westwood (West Midlands) is an author, writer, poet and musician.
His debut book 'Poems From a Runaway' are his real-life accounts of being a child runaway living on the streets of London whilst missing from foster care.
He has also authored a fictional poetry book called 'Welcome To Leatheton.'
His debut book 'Poems From a Runaway' are his real-life accounts of being a child runaway living on the streets of London whilst missing from foster care.
He has also authored a fictional poetry book called 'Welcome To Leatheton.'
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 30, 2019
Retreated
Poetry is deeply personal to the poet, it has meaning and an outpouring of emotion; nostalgia, pain, love and truth. As much as trying to appreciate a poem for its face value there is always a draw to appreciate the underlying personal expression taking place. Ben was a young boy of eleven when he started running away from home and lived on the streets until about 16. He also became a homeless man, living without the constraints he perceived. Ben no longer lives on the streets, he is a busker and now works as a social worker.
The narrative starts when Ben from his earliest years and illustrates his growing disaffection with his mother’s partner and life around him until he starts to run away. Reading about Ben’s life through his poems has a revealing feel to it because as a child he resists explaining his angsts, and finds it difficult to articulate his thinking and intention to those around him, yet commits his thoughts to poetry as a way of exercising this inner voice. The emotional context within each poem is very minimal, almost in an attempt to subvert any pity and sympathy that may arise. This is a story of a runaway boy – an example of runaways and homeless people – expressed through the personal experiences of Ben Westwood. The threats, exposure to drug addiction, prostitution, are all encounters Ben has witnessed and are revealed from a destructive and humorous perspective. I can’t imagine a life like this and it is heart-breaking and distressing that many young people live like this in our society.
The collection of poems are structured chronologically as narrative poems and each poem delivers a mix of stanzas and rhymes. My knowledge doesn’t extend to identifying the various mechanisms or styles in poetry but as a reader, I enjoyed this style of telling a personal true story. Like a lot of poetry collections, I find it more rewarding to read the poems in small bursts and consider each poem for its own spirit, rather than amalgamating thoughts and feeling and producing a summary personality.
I came across this book after chatting with Jane Corry on her latest book, I Looked Away, and I appreciate her recommendation and the insight she gained from reading Ben’s work. I would also recommend reading this book.
Poetry is deeply personal to the poet, it has meaning and an outpouring of emotion; nostalgia, pain, love and truth. As much as trying to appreciate a poem for its face value there is always a draw to appreciate the underlying personal expression taking place. Ben was a young boy of eleven when he started running away from home and lived on the streets until about 16. He also became a homeless man, living without the constraints he perceived. Ben no longer lives on the streets, he is a busker and now works as a social worker.
The narrative starts when Ben from his earliest years and illustrates his growing disaffection with his mother’s partner and life around him until he starts to run away. Reading about Ben’s life through his poems has a revealing feel to it because as a child he resists explaining his angsts, and finds it difficult to articulate his thinking and intention to those around him, yet commits his thoughts to poetry as a way of exercising this inner voice. The emotional context within each poem is very minimal, almost in an attempt to subvert any pity and sympathy that may arise. This is a story of a runaway boy – an example of runaways and homeless people – expressed through the personal experiences of Ben Westwood. The threats, exposure to drug addiction, prostitution, are all encounters Ben has witnessed and are revealed from a destructive and humorous perspective. I can’t imagine a life like this and it is heart-breaking and distressing that many young people live like this in our society.
The collection of poems are structured chronologically as narrative poems and each poem delivers a mix of stanzas and rhymes. My knowledge doesn’t extend to identifying the various mechanisms or styles in poetry but as a reader, I enjoyed this style of telling a personal true story. Like a lot of poetry collections, I find it more rewarding to read the poems in small bursts and consider each poem for its own spirit, rather than amalgamating thoughts and feeling and producing a summary personality.
I came across this book after chatting with Jane Corry on her latest book, I Looked Away, and I appreciate her recommendation and the insight she gained from reading Ben’s work. I would also recommend reading this book.
January 10, 2018
A fascinating insight into the life of a young boy, from foster families and care homes to living with the homeless, on the streets of London, Ben was almost like a modern day Oliver Twist.
Such an interesting story, Could not stop reading it! I Highly recommend buying the book!
Such an interesting story, Could not stop reading it! I Highly recommend buying the book!
February 8, 2018
Once you start you won't be able to put down, I read it over 2 evenings. Throughout I forgot just how young Ben was. I loved how he interlaced humour throughout despite his situation which helped me worry about him less, how he highlighted the kindness of others, recognition of his own frustrating behaviour that he couldn't fully explain and that he got to share his story.
December 22, 2020
It's easy to forget just how young the Ben telling us these stories is - from bravery in the face of uncertain interactions, to tales of human kindness, and all in between. None of the horrors of street life are lost in these poems and tales, but they're presented in a lighthearted way that makes it easy to read.
An absolute gem of a book that would do well to be on the shelf of every person who works with or intends to work with young people in this world.
An absolute gem of a book that would do well to be on the shelf of every person who works with or intends to work with young people in this world.
September 12, 2024
loved this book,.related and lyrical. Definitely a read and read again and again
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews