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Nae Nov 2013
“Nicole Brunelli, the first small town journalist receiving...” - no - “...the best journalist of Ludlow receiving the Pulitzer Prize! She is ambitious, determinated, fearless, unstoppable and this couldn’t be possible if she wasn’t like this otherwise she would never had revealed the macabre events of Bethlem Royal Hospital! Aaaaaaah”.
My name is Nicole Brunelli I’m 28 years old and I’m a journalist. My childhood wasn’t easy but what childhood was? My mom died when she gave me birth, and my dad... lo... my dad loved me too much until my 16 years old. By then I was starting college and I went to live with a friend of mine, we moved to  Glasgow and we graduated together. We had the time of our life and I ended up marrying him, a few years later we moved to a small town called Ludlow, we had our precious first child and I became an unknown journalist. But now everything changed, this is what I was meant to do.
I research about Bethlem Asylum and some archive stuff just doesn’t make sense, death dates, nonexistent patients, witnesses like one man who lived in the area of the hospital attested to the “cryings, screechings, roarings, brawlings, shaking of chains, swearings, frettings, and chaffings to be heard from the outside.” and he also said something about the managers of the facility that were known as Keepers, and were seemingly as frightening as they sound.  One such Keeper, Helkiah Crooke, a member of the medical department of the royal household, took over, ousting the former for being “unskillful in the practice of medicine.” It could be assumed that he would then handle the medical inattentions to the patients, but no records were ever made of any medical needs of the patients. He himself referred to the patients as “the poore” or “prisoners”. Something is not right I feel it and that is why I’m going there to scrutinize, and due to this I’m going to be the first and the best small town journalist receiving a Pulitzer.
My husband doesn’t really agree with this, but he knows how I am, he knows I’ll do everything for my Pulitzer, and to make him and our baby proud of me...
The time has come, this is it. My future is about to change, I am here now, after a bus ride to Bethlem that **** 3 hours and 45 minutes, I am here.
They refused to receive me! They don’t let me in! They don’t let me in and they don’t give me any information about their procedure on patients or anything! No, no, no, no. I gotta find another way to get in.  I have to. I gotta find another way in. I’ve got to do this! I don’t know what to do, I was so close, so ******* close! I can’t give up, I can’t! I’ve got to do this! This is what I was meant to do!

One night passed and I was still there waiting for them to let me in until the night watch, where a nurse thought I was one of them trying to run, or at least that was what she wanted me think. For instants I thought “This is my chance! This is it” until I realised that once I get in, the difficult part is to figure how to get out.
Three days passed and I realised what they were doing there...people coming in aisle F as sanes or insanes and two days later coming out as vegetables or dead... They were using patients, human beings, and most of them weren’t even crazy at least when they got there, and they were using them as cavies for their experiences.
Of course, who would believe in crazy people?
After the seventh day as a patient in the Asylum I had earned the right to a guided tour to aisle D... where they give you shock therapy. Apparently I’m a messy patient, I talk to much and I refused to take some pills, so they sent me to see Mr. Cleymoore, the asylum shrink so he could diagnose me; he said that I would never see my family again, that I would never see my husband or my baby again, he said he knew all about me, and he wanted me to sign myself in the asylum but I refused to do that...So they faked my death. In my plug diagnosis my name was no longer Nicole Brunelli, now I was Lisa Coventry and I was diagnosed with hidden schizophrenia and double personality disorder, caused by the fire that killed my family when I was 16 years old.
But how would they know all of this? My family, my past, my whole life?! It doesn’t make any sense!
Three months passed and I had a tour to aisle D every week. This place was crazy, it makes me think who are the insane people here. The way they treated people! The way the “disturbed” were chained up to walls and posts like dogs. They slept on beds of straw only as the water supply did not allow for washing of linens. The way the rooms had exposed windows, leaving the patients in damp conditions at the mercy of all weather and utter darkness at night. The hospital itself was actually noted as “a crazy carcass with no wall still vertical,” offering only leaking, caved in roofs, uneven floors and buckling walls.
Under Crooke’s Keeping, the residents were not only filthy and unclothed, but malnourished to the point of starvation using a “lowering diet,” of intentionally slim portions of plain food only twice a day. It was meant to deplete and purge the madness out of the victims, while helping to conserve money. 
 There were no fruit or vegetables to be given. Mostly bread, meat, oatmeal, butter, cheese and plenty of beer was the menu. While all of this is terrible, the true horror was in the moneymaking scheme that kept it running at all. Originally, the hospital was open to the public in hopes that food would be brought to the inmates from the community. Quickly, money was charged, creating a sideshow where the public was invited to watch patients displayed in cages, laugh at them as they banged their heads repeatedly on the walls, and even to poke them with sticks and throw things at them.
 Luckly I made a friend there, Mike Spencer was his name, he was the male nurse who used to do the night watches, he used to stay all night with me just talking and making promises; he knew I wasn’t crazy and that actualy helped me keeping me sane, at least for a while.
 Six months passed and I wasn’t the same.
They are coming, they are coming...they are coming for me...they are coming for Lisa.
 It’s cold, the cold tastes like blue. - Ahah - it tastes like blue! - Ahah...It’s cold... they are coming for Lisa, Lisa doesn’t want to go with them...
 She said that she’ll keep me safe, she said she would take care of Lisa. Lisa is hearing them, They are coming! Lisa doesn’t want to go, no, no, no, NO.
 She said they wouldn’t hurt me. YOU SAID THEY WOULDN’T HURT ME! They, gave me shocks again, they gave Lisa shocks.
 It’s not my fault. They know. They know. They must know why am I here if they don’t know? It’s not my fault she made me do it! She said it was the best thing! Now they can’t have him. Now he’s safe. My unborned baby is safe. They can’t have him now.
 She said she would protect me...She said she would protect Lisa. Shut the voices down! Shut the voices! She’s saying bad things. Lisa doesn’t like what she’s saying. She keeps telling me - “ You killed your mother when she gave you birth! it’s your fault that daddy loved you and used you to replace her! You know you liked when he used to play with you and love you. Everybody knows he used to did it what people didn’t knew was that you liked it! you wanted more! You know he only did it because you let him! And you certainly know who started the fire who killed him...” - SHUT UP! We need to shut the voices down! We need to shut the voices! shut...shut the voices...shut the... shut the voices down... shut the voices down... shut... shut the... shut the voices...
 She said Mike promised. She said Mike promised Lisa to take me out of here... Mike promised.
Two more months passed and I was completly insane due the shock therapy, but Mike kept his promise and he took me out of there, in the middle of the night he gave me a coat and he drove me to South Hampton seaport, he gave me the ticket and said that that was the further he could go. Along with the ticket he also gave me his lucky neckless and told me he bought me a ticket to Cuba so I could be free. I left a friend in that seaport a really good friend but I needed to go I couldn’t go back to that place.
 I had no lugagge, no shoes, nothing, just a coat, a neckless and a ticket to freedom.
 I had to ****** adapt to the situation and try to go unnoticed and not to attract to many attention, so I went to my cabine and stayed there until the end of the cruise for the maximum I could.
Diego Scarca Dec 2010
Nevica a Parigi
sugli alberi di carta,
sugli addobbi di Natale sgonfi,
sui bambini di plastica
e sui castelli di latta.

Nevica a Parigi una neve fiacca
che s’incolla ai cappotti della gente
che si trascina per strada
con aria distratta.

Nevica nei caffè,
attraverso i vetri,
sui boulevards deserti
e sui nostri sguardi tetri.

Si colorano di bianco
la cupola dell’albergo di lusso,
il tettuccio dell’edicola senza giornali,
il carretto delle castagne arrosto,
il marciapiede su cui scivola una dama
e cerca un cantuccio il barbone.

Nevica a Parigi, senza ragione,
sulle donne e sugli uomini.



Nevica nei grandi magazzini,
nelle chiese vuote
e nelle nostre stanze.
Sulle autostrade inondate di fango
che corrono sopra la città,
sulle scarpate coperte d’immondizia
e sulle nostre frasi lasciate a metà.

Nevica a Parigi sulla terra
del parco in cui non attecchirà
più l’erba, sulla nostra visione
acerba delle cose.
Nevica a Parigi come per illusione.



Nevica perché non ha
nessun senso che nevichi,
perché siamo in inverno
ma non è detto che torni
il bel tempo.

Nevica sul cemento
di chi ha avuto il coraggio
di costruire i grattacieli per i grandi
e le cabine di comando
per gli uomini d’affari
dagli occhi stanchi.



Nevica sui ghetti e sulle città satelliti,
sulle lampade al neon
dei luna park abbandonati.
Nevica, in televisione e al cinema,
per i negri, i bianchi,
le persone sole e gli alcolizzati.

Nevica e le cose si perdono
in un pulviscolo.
Da un vicolo sbuca
un autobus senza autista,
da un altro una carrozza
trainata da elefanti.
In un carosello di fiocchi di neve
impazziscono le immagini.

Nevica a Parigi sui camposanti.



Nevica nei bordelli e nelle bettole,
nei salotti alla moda,
nei negozi degli antiquari
e nei quadri che i pittori
non hanno fatto a tempo
a terminare…

Nevica sugli operai stanchi
di non lavorare,
sulle matrone che si abbandonano
alle braccia dei drogati.
Nevica sugli ospedali e sugli ammalati.



Nevica sugli aeroplani e sulla notte,
sulle navi e sul vento,
sull’eco delle stragi,
sul pianto dei feriti
e sul rantolo dei moribondi.

Nevica a Parigi
sul tempo che finisce
in un’esplosione di secondi.



Nevica sulla neve
e nevicherà ancora.
E’ una neve che a tratti ci sferza
e a tratti ci ignora.
E’ una neve che spazza via tutto,
una neve spietata.
Perché a Parigi da oggi nevica
nella nostra mente annebbiata.
Diego Scarca, Architetture del vuoto, Torino, Edizioni Angolo Manzoni, 2007
J'adore la Mythologie,
Sa science en fleurs, sa magie,
Ses Dieux... souvent si singuliers,
Et ses Femmes surnaturelles
Qui mêlent leurs noms aux querelles
Des peuples et des écoliers.

Cachés parfois dans les nuages,
Leurs noms luisent... sur nos voyages.
J'ai vu leurs temples phéniciens ;
Et je songe, quand bat la diane,
Involontairement à Diane
Battant les bois avec ses chiens.

Tenez, Madame, je l'adore
Pour une autre raison encore :
C'est qu'elle offre à tous les amants,
Pour leur Belle entre les plus belles,
Des compliments par ribambelles
Dans d'éternels rapprochements.

Car toutes, ce sont des Déesses,
Leur inspirant mille prouesses
Dans le présent et l'avenir,
Comme dans le passé... farouche ;
Je me ferai casser la... bouche
Plutôt que n'en pas... convenir !

Mais Vous, Madame, l'Immortelle
Que vous êtes, qui donc est-elle ?
Est-ce Junon, Reine des Dieux,
À qui le plus... joyeux des Faunes,
Son homme en faisait voir de jaunes,
Étant coureur de... jolis lieux ?

Avec son beau masque de plâtre
Et sa lèvre blanche, idolâtre
D'Endymion, froid sigisbé,
Qui, dans sa clarté léthargique,
Dort au moment psychologique,
Est-ce la Déesse Phœbé ?

Foutre non !... Vous voyant si belle
Je dirais bien que c'est Cybèle,
S'il n'était de ces calembours
Qu'il faut laisser fleurir aux Halles...
Pourtant ces jeux pleins de cymbales
Égayaient Rome, et les faubourgs...

Je me hâte, est-ce Proserpine,
Reine des enfers ? quelle épine
Ce serait dans mon madrigal,
Sacré nom de Dieu !... ça vous blesse ?
Eh ! bien ! Sacré nom de Déesse !
Si vous voulez, ça m'est égal !

Je vous servirais Amphitrite
Comme on sert bien frite ou peu frite
Une friture de poissons,
Sans le : « Perfide comme l'onde »,
Car, vous avez pour tout le monde
Le cœur le plus loyal... passons.

Oui, passons ta plus belle éponge
Sur ces noms, Neptune ! eh ! j'y songe :
Pourquoi prendrais-je... trop de gants ?
À contempler votre visage
Plus doux qu'un profond paysage,
Ton galbe des plus élégants,

Vous êtes ?... Vous êtes ?... Vous êtes ?...
Je le donne en deux aux poètes,
Je le donne en trois aux sculpteurs,
Je le donne en quatre aux artistes,
En quatre ou cinq aux coloristes
De l'École des amateurs...

Puisqu'il faut que je vous le... serve,
Vous êtes Vénus, ou Minerve...
Mais laquelle, en réalité ?
Oui, la femme à qui je songe, est-ce
Minerve, ce Puits de Sagesse,
Ou Vénus, Astre de Beauté ?

Êtes-Vous puits ? Êtes-Vous Astre ?
Vous un puits ! quel affreux désastre !
Autant Te jeter dans un puits,
La plaisanterie est permise,
Sans Te retirer ta chemise,
Le temps de dire : Je Te suis.

Vous seriez la vérité fausse,
Qui tient trop à son haut-de-chausse,
Tandis que l'Astre de Beauté
C'est la Vérité qui ne voile
Pas plus la femme que l'étoile,
La véritable Vérité.

Vous êtes Vénus qui se lève
Au firmament ; mais... est-ce un rêve ?
Où ?... Je Vous vois... rougir... un peu,
Comme si je disais des choses...
Où si j'allais sans fins ni causes
Répéter : Sacré nom de Dieu !

Vous rougissez... oui, c'est le signe
Auquel on connaît si la vigne
Et si la femme sont à point :
C'est Cérès aussi qu'on vous nomme ?
Tant mieux ! Sacré nom... d'une pomme !
Pour moi je n'y contredis point.

Non ?... ce n'est pas Cérès ? bizarre !
Cependant, Madame, il est rare,
Rare... que je frappe à côté.
Quelle est donc, voyons ? par la cuisse
De Jupin ! la femme qui puisse
Ainsi rougir de sa beauté ?

Ce n'est pas Bellone ? la Guerre,
Nom de Dieu ! ça ne rougit guère...
Qu'un champ,... un fleuve... ou le terrain ;
Ce n'est pas Diane chasseresse,
Car cette bougre de Bougresse
Doit être un démon à tous crins !

Serait-ce ?... Serait-ce ?... Serait-ce ?
Minerve ? Après tout, la Sagesse
Est bien capable de rougir ;
Mais ce n'est qu'une mijaurée,
Les trois quarts du temps éplorée
Et qui tremble au moment d'agir...

Tiens ! Cependant, ce serait drôle !
Je percherais sur ton épaule,
Je me frotterais à ton cou,
Je serais votre oiseau, Madame,
J'ai les yeux ronds pleins de ta flamme
Et plus éblouis qu'un hibou...

Voilà deux heures que je cherche,
Personne ne me tend la perche :
C'est donc une énigme, cela ?
Oui... quant à moi, de guerre lasse,
Madame, je demande grâce ;
Tiens ! Grâce !... et pardieu ! la voilà !

C'est la Grâce, oui, c'est bien la Grâce,
La Grâce, ni maigre ni grasse,
Tenez, justement, comme Vous !
Vous êtes, souffrez que je beugle,
Vénus l'Astre qui nous aveugle,
Et la Grâce qui nous rend fous.

Et si quelqu'un venait me dire
Qu'elles sont trois, je veux en rire
Avec tout l'Olympe à la fois !
Celle du corps, celle de l'âme,
Et celle du cœur, oui, Madame,
Vous les avez toutes les trois.

Vous êtes Vénus naturelle,
Entraînant un peu derrière Elle
Les trois Grâces par les chemins,
Comme Vous-même toutes nues,
Dans notre Monde revenues,
Vous tenant toutes par les mains.

Vénus, née au bord de la Manche,
Pareille à l'Aphrodite blanche
Que l'onde aux mortels révéla ;
Au bord... où fleurit... la Cabine :
Sacré nom... d'une carabine !
Quel calibre Vous avez là !
Je connais un charmant ivrogne,
Autant vous le nommer, ma foi !
Dire que vous avez la trogne,
Ce serait mentir sans vergogne.
Pourtant, un soir, écoutez-moi !

Vous aviez bu trop de champagne,
Ça se lisait dans vos yeux pers.
Vous battiez un peu la campagne,
Sans feuille de figuier ni pagne
À votre esprit, vraiment, sans pairs.

Et vous me dérouliez le thème
De tous les jolis mouvements
Que votre corps sait bien que j'aime.
J'étais, d'ailleurs, ivre moi-même,
Au Bon-Bock, tu vois si je mens.

La brasserie était houleuse,
On aurait dit, sur l'Hellespont,
D'une cabine nuageuse,
Quand l'eau, changée en Maufrigneuse,
Choque les gens dans l'entrepont.

Vous aviez l'air *** d'une chatte
Qui joue et sent son ongle armé,
Forte, ambigüe, et délicate,
Comme une rime sous la patte
Magistrale de Mallarmé !

Je flottais comme la moustache
De Paul Verlaine au plectre d'or,
Je voyais couleur de pistache ;
Camille agitait sa cravache,
Sur je ne sais plus quel butor ;

Si bien qu'au milieu des querelles
Je vous retrouvai sur un banc,
Dans l'attitude de ces Belles
Que Forain, dans ses aquarelles,
Habille d'un bout de ruban.

Tu t'endormais sur mon épaule.
Alors, je fis signe au cocher.
Ces choses-là, c'est toujours drôle !
J'entrais d'autant mieux dans ce rôle
Que j'aurais eu peine à marcher ;

Quand on nous déposa sur terre,
Vous fîtes un léger faux pas,
Le seul qu'on vous vit jamais faire ;
Encor, même à l'œil trop sévère,
Peut-être ne l'était-il pas ?

Car, dans l'ombre où s'éteint le rêve
De mes désirs réalisés,
Ton ivresse que l'Art relève
Ouvrait, ô noble Fille d'Ève,
La volière à tous les baisers !

— The End —