David Graham

I’m proud to announce today that the poem I wrote, The Loan Shark, is one of the seven winners in Stop Loan Sharks short story competition. As a winner it has been recorded and was read out during the annual Stop Loan Sharks week, which started on the 30th November.

I’m especially proud because I won this competition even though I have very limited use of my hands. I wrote the poem using voice dictation software, entered the competition using voice dictation software. I was a little bit aggrieved I had to use a new picture as they wanted me holding up the poem, and I have to say, I look a little rough LOL. That’s what happens when you can’t use your hands to properly look after yourself.

Even still, it shows you what you can do if you are willing to adapt to whatever has been thrown your way.

To view the poem and check out the announcement, see the link:

www.stoploansharks.co.uk/tyne-and-wear-writer-wins-national-short-story-competition/

To talk a little about the competition, my poem along with the winners from the other categories, will be used to help raise awareness for what is such an important cause. Fighting loan sharks.

​With all the financial distress that so many people are suffering thanks to Covid, loan sharks will be in their element, and so people who may fall into the hands of such unscrupulous people will need all the support they can get, support which Stop Loan Sharks provides.

For more information on who Stop Loan Sharks are and what they do, along with how you can help, check out their website:

www.stoploansharks.co.uk

I truly do implore anyone who can help out to do so, and for anybody struggling with a loan shark, I swear to you that contacting Stop Loan Sharks will be the smartest decision you can make. They will help you and show you that you do have a way out.

Here’s my winning entry:

The Loan Shark

By

David Graham

I won’t tell you in the beginning,

but take a loan from me,

and you’ll never be free,

for your debt will keep rising exponentially,

miss a payment,

and I’ll be at your door,

miss two,

and you’ll be out cold on the floor,

miss three,

and I’ll sell you out as a whore,

miss four,

and my friend you’ll not be living any more, don’t you see,

there is no escaping me,

you can’t run,

you can’t hide,

there is no one in which

you can confide,

your friends can’t help,

your family can’t help

the police can’t help,

or at least that’s what

I’ll make you believe,

for don’t you see it’s

my job to deceive,

yes, need some money,

then I’m the man to see,

but take the money,

and you’ll never be free,

but I won’t tell you this,

oh no I won’t,

to start I’ll be your only friend,

I’ll be your only hope,

when the banks won’t give you anymore,

I’ll swing open my vault’s door,

because I’m a loan shark,

and until you’ve taken my money,

you won’t see my bark,

but once you do,

let me tell you

you will be mine.