Dear Abi

Ready (ready) Yep Action! Dear Abi, let me start by saying how proud I am that you're an artist It's in the blood running through both our veins Keep having ideas, never stop throwing paint On canvas with conviction A lie told right can be more beautiful than the truth at times Dear Abi, never stop having ideas When I was seven years old my aunty dug her nails in my arm As she leant in and whispered, "Do you miss your real dad?" Only looking back do I understand how sadistic that was My real dad was the man who raised me Second person to hold me as a baby DNA doesn't dictate parenting ability He was far from perfect, but brilliant to me Abi, you look like me And I've never said that to any other person This brings with it questions of identity And answers I've honestly been running from I'm terrified that you know the guy who's half of why I'm alive Compartmentalised in my mind my whole life On canvas with conviction A lie told right can be more beautiful than the truth at times You sketch in your notepad, as I sing to voice notes In both of our work we deal in the dramatic I write in my bedroom as you paint in yours Life is too messy for a tidy narrative Abi, you have taught me to make things beautiful Just 'cause it feels good I love how you can embrace the mundane in bright technicolour This feeling is strength We're brother and sister raised by different father's Similar compositions by different artists On canvas with conviction A lie told right can be more beautiful than the truth at times You sketch in your notepad as I sing to voice notes In both of our work we deal in the dramatic I write in my bedroom as you paint in yours Life is too messy for a tidy narrative I wanna get to know you, come to an exhibition You should come to a show soon, next time we're in London On canvas with conviction, the truth told right Can be more beautiful than a lie Dear Abi, let me start by saying how proud I am that you're an artist It's in the blood running through both our veins Keep having ideas, never stop throwing paint