St Andrews Hospital, Northampton.
3rd March, 1959
Dear Miss Weaver,
Forgive my handwriting………………………..my hand shakes as merrily
as the mouse ……………….crossing my bed. ….Here, one is not permitted
to be happy,……………….because of jealousies. …..Here, ……………….I mangle my words.
Here, ……………….Dr MacDonald says little, but I cannot remember
the last time they used …………………………..*camisole de force !
Here, the others knit …………………I do not. Here, …………………the open jaws of the lift
hold unspeakable horrors! ..I am quite well most days... I am quite .dazed most ways.
I would like to leave this place.….. I would like to cross the Irish Sea …..to visit Galway
again. Do you think ………you might make ……………………the arrangements?
I would like to have a house, ……..with a garden, ..a chance to hear children.. play.
I scuttle from one room to the next,. having no .companions or distractions.
Yesterday I covered my face with black .boot polish, as I could not stand to look at it.
I no longer .. throw chairs, ..or make scenes. ..I no longer speak .. ..much at all.
I await your reply.
LUCIA JOYCE
*camisole de force = straitjacket
Letter to Miss Weaver film is a short poetry film written and directed by Ger Duffy’s. It recalls a period in Lucia Joyce’s life (daughter of James Joyce) where she was incarcerated in St Andrew’s Psychiatric Hospital, Northampton (UK). She was there as a patient and writes to Miss Harriet Weaver (her guardian) asking her to bring her to Ireland. It is a creative account as all documents about Lucia Joyce were destroyed. The complete film goes for five and half minutes. You can view the trailer for the film here:
Ger Duffy lives in Co Waterford, Ireland. Her poems have appeared in PN Review, Under the Radar, the London Grip, 14 Magazine, Poetry Ireland Review, Southword and other lit mags. In 2025 she was selected for Poetry Ireland Introductions. She hosts the poetry reading series, The Poetry Lounge @ WGOA and she is co-editor of 3 Pillars Poetry Press.
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