Choose Love by Nicola Davies and Petr Horáček
Choose Love is a cycle of poems that highlights the experience of those forced to become refugees. The core of the collection was written in 2018 as part of a project with the charity Refugee Trauma Initiative. With the permission of both individual refugees and aid workers, RTI shared with Nicola a number of true and poignant stories which were then used as the basis for shortform poems.
Over the following yearsNicola has added to this core of poems to create a coherent collection on the theme of forced migration, its wider causes and consequences.
Paired with these poems are thought-provoking pieces of art, created by award winning illustrator Petr Horáček, who was himself a refugee.
Both Nicola and Petr have decided to donate 100% of their royalties from this book towards national charity Choose Love.
Sample poem:
Before we left
For months we listened, huddled in the dark:
to Mother’s words, like hail battering the roof
“It is too dangerous
It is too far
It is too expensive It is too cold
It is too lonely”;
to Father’s silence.
When at last his words came,
they lodged beneath our eyelids
the way sand does, rubbing, chaffing,
“There is no future here We have to leave.”
We listened, huddled in the dark
Afraid.
Choose Love are an incredibly important charity pioneering a new movement in humanitarian aid: fast, flexible, transparent and accountable. They are a lean, passionate team driving a fast-paced global movement across 26 countries, raising millions to support refugees around the world.
Choose Love does whatever it takes to provide refugees and displaced people with everything from lifesaving search and rescue boats to food and legal advice. We elevate the voices and visibility of refugees and galvanise public support for agile community organisations providing vital support to refugees along migration routes globally.
Over the years they have raised over $82 million across 33 countries, but their work is far from finished. We're incredibly proud to be able to support a charity who have paved the way for many refugees across the world.
Find out more about Choose Love by clicking the button below