Len Pennie, the Scots language poet and author of the #2 Sunday Times-bestselling poetry collection poyums, has written a piece for The Guardian on domestic violence, the experience of being stalked, and navigating the justice system.

“Being stalked can sometimes feel like having a wound that is trying to heal around a foreign object. Days, weeks, even months can go by without incident, but all it takes is one more instance of unwanted contact for the object to be twisted and all the healing to come undone. It can be hard – even for me, a poet who works with language and words every day – to fully articulate the impact of this experience. Being stalked warps not only your sense of self and time, but also your grasp on reality; simultaneously navigating the flawed criminal justice system while living in fear can make you feel as though you are losing your mind.”

In the piece, which you can read in full here, Len describes her four-year journey to take her abuser to court, and discusses the issues with the justice system, the help that is out there for victims of abuse, and how and why she began writing poetry.

Len’s debut collection, poyums, is now a Sunday Times bestseller. Grab your copy here or, better, via your local bookshop or Bookshop.org.

Follow Len on TikTok @misspunnypennie and Twitter @Lenniesaurus.