Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts

 

Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts  …

… they say, but at Ireland Wood primary school Apollo brought enchantment and poetic delight.  A large plaster bust of the Greek god served up inspiration and the starting point for creative writing of original poetry, carefully edited and redrafted to produce honed and thoughtful poems.  Live at the Apollo, reimagined.

Local writer and poet James Nash worked his own magic once again with sixty youngters in year 6 in his series of poetry workshops culminating in a performance assembly in front of the classes in year 5.  Oh, and they were videoed so all parents have access to the work that was produced.  Quite intimidating if you're only ten years old, and you have to read out some or all of your poem to the listening classes, teachers, support assistants and visitors present in the school hall.

 

Occasionally the nerves showed – shaking papers and quavering voices – but most stepped up to the microphone and declaimed their own words with brio and pride.  Even though some had to stoop to reach the fixed microphone and others reach up to ensure their words, literally their own words, were heard. The quality of the vocabulary, the empathy and immersion in the world of ancient Athens was astonishing.  

 

The effort that the school put into arranging James' workshops and in the final assembly showed the strength of their commitment to the vale of the work.  As year 6 class teacher Ms Pliener said, “My pupils have been on a real journey, gaining in confidence and excitement and volunteering en masse to read the whole of their poem to the assembly.”  Mr Burgess, who teaches the parallel class, also commented that “It's so important for youngsters to learn how to have the confidence to speak in public as it's so important in any aspect of life and work.”

 

The pupils first learned from James that Apollo was the god of archery, music & dance, truth & prophecy, healing & diseases, the Sun & light as well as the god of poetry.  Plenty there to inspire them - and it showed in the range of comments about him and his work. We heard of golden arrows, the Creator of Remedies,  the bustle of Athens, and the smell the olive trees that surrounded the city.

 

Profound handicap did not stop two boys from reading out their own work – it would have been very difficult to stop them, I think – and one girl who had been panicking before the assembly then took to the centre stage to read her work with aplomb.  These experiences were observed in rapt attention by the year five pupils in the audience, so the value of this work just keeps on giving. As Ms Blair, a learning support assistant said, “I have seen confidence of some of the most nervous members of the class just shoot through the roof.  It's an absolute joy.” There was high praise too from Ms Kerr, another learning support assistant, for the way James held the attention of the youngsters and she commented that she too had got a lot out of his work.  Yet another gift from a Greek god – Apollo, not James!

 

Just one example of so many; this from a god reflecting  on life 2000 years later:

 

I am Apollo

 

I am Apollo

The graceful god of music and dance,

The all-needed sun and light,

Future, truth and prophecy.

 

I still hear shout of praise for me,

Smell the sacrifices in the temples

And the taste of sweet success,

For I protected their young.

 

Oh, the music I played for them

On my golden lyre

For my beauty they could not resist,

They could not resist, they could not resist.

 

As I sat atop Mount Olympus,

Foreseeing the future,

I thought about what more to do.

Was there any more to be done?

 

So now as I sit on a dusty windowsill,

The sun bathing me in light, I think about what would happen

If I were never born.

 

Comments from the youngsters involved included:

It was great to be able to ask questions of a Real Writer

It's really useful to me as I now plan to be a writer

It's really good to share your work with others as it builds your confidence

It was fun!

 

Headingley LitFest is very grateful for the funding to complete this work, granted once again by the Inner North West Area Community Committee.

 

 

Poet #Malika Booker returns to Brudenell Primary School

 Richard Wilcocks writes:

Malika is now well-known at Brudenell, amongst the staff at least. Headteacher Jill Harland welcomed us both  as we checked in, joking that we were now entitled to wear school jumpers. Tom Nutman, the enthusiastic teacher of Year 5, had vivid memories of Malika's sessions last year, and had primed his class in advance. She won them over seconds after walking into the room, and proceeded to live up to all their expectations.

First session

Malika knows which of her poems work with ten-year-olds. As a year ago with a different class, she began by reading two of the poems in her extensive repertoire, one about being lost in a maze (she was once Poet in Residence at Hampton Court, which has a famous one) and a little boy who could navigate it better than adults like herself, and one about a cat that had to be dismissed from the household soon after she was born. She shared her early experiences of shopping with her mother, which she never liked. The class was extremely responsive to her questions. They knew all about shopping trolleys, and markets. Supermarkets anyway.

Reminders about the five senses followed, and the use of similes, all ground covered by Tom Nutman recently. Then she wrote a list of emotions on the whiteboard, as suggested by the children - anger, hate, sadness, jealousy, love, excitement and joy. Each class member had to choose one, think hard about it, write it down, and say what it was like to feel it. The outcomes were shared, and this preliminary work was scheduled for future elaboration.

Second session

A number of similes were read out. Malika moved on to the need to think visually.The children were asked to write poems from their own experiences. Several children were invited to stand up to read poems they had written in the preceding week, thanks to Tom Nutman's encouragement, based on similes. 'Project your voice!' she advised. 'Use your playground voice.' Then it was time to begin the poems which were to be performed to parents the following week. 'I always write out my list of ingredients before the creating. That's what I am doing at the moment for the poem  commissioned for the Verb programme on BBC 3. You can do the same thing. Writing poetry is like cooking.

'It could be either a praise poem about a person in your life who you love and admire, like your mother, or a poem about where you are from.' Stimulus poems were distributed - 'Praise Song for my Mother' by Grace Nichols, 'I'm From the Woods...' by Nick (surname unknown) and 'Where I am from' by Anonymous. 'Gather your ingredients and start writing,' Malika instructed. Tom Nutman said the class would work on the poems before the big rehearsal and the performance in a week's time. 

Final session. Performance.

The rehearsal in the hall was a time to overcome nerves and to be bold and brave, for most a first chance to be a lone performer in front of an adult audience. Advice was gentle but constant. 'Keep the paper at the right level, not too high and not too low', 'Imagine you're a tree. Plant your feet firmly to let your roots grow into the ground', 'Aim for the back wall'. An X was taped on the polished floor. Chairs were set out, gym mats piled up in a corner. The school's little video camera was set up on a tripod. After a break, the parents arrived to sit in the audience. 

One by one, the children stepped forward to read, and the level of self-confidence was remarkably high. Each reading was followed by loud clapping. Emotions expressed in the poems were genuine, and praise poems in particular were much appreciated by their subjects who were sitting listening. 

.Jill Harland was extremely complimentary to everybody afterwards: 'You were amazing! You've reflected on your life and noted what's important. You spoke so directly to your parents if they are in the hall. You should keep your poem for ever!'

'I have seen this performance every year since Malika first came (in 2016) and this year it is better than ever,' said Year 6 teacher Julie Rawlinson.

'I loved how they overcame their nerves. I'm really proud of them,' said classroom assistant Safiya.

'I loved it. I cried,' said a mother as she hugged her son.

Selected poems

My Praise Poem for Mum by Brett

You are my rock,

Shielding the gem in me.

 

You are my sword and shield,

Attack predators without a care and defend me with all your might

 

You are my heart in my body,

Beating, guiding me in life.

 

You are the beaming sunlight,

When I’m in the dark.

I can count on you

 

You always say be Kind, Caring and Supportive before school.

I remember

I am

I hope

 

I am From by Calice

I’m from the Rocky Road, where cars speed up and down.

I’m from the fish and chip shop aromas, catching me as I play.

I’m from Aldi, where my mum would browse for days, leaving me in everlasting boredom.

I’m from the “Are We There Yet,” at the start of car rides, that feel like they have been going for days

I’m from my mums warm kiss sending me into Sweet dreams.

I’m proud of where I am from. 

My Praise Poem by Juwairiyah

You are my moon, my star, brightening the night sky.

You are like my rose, blooming in my heart,

You always make a rainbow appear in my life.

You are my morning sunrise, revealing the shades of love.

Your rice and chicken takes me to another level.

You are the path to my heart, your love fills my life with laughter.

Your love tastes like sweet strawberries dipped in creamy melting chocolate.

You told me to explore the world, now here I am today.

Kay Mellor

 We are shocked to hear of the death last Sunday of local resident and national treasure Kay Mellor. She was far too young! A highly talented, forthright and friendly actor, playwright and director for stage and television, she gave voices to working class characters, with the world seen through their eyes. She was very fond of Headingley (look out for Woodies and other local locations when her series are shown again on television), and Yorkshire in general. She said many times that she liked to have plays produced here rather than in London's West End. She was a good friend of Headingley LitFest who talked to us at an event in 2013 at the New Headingley Club, when we presented her with a bouquet. Here is the photo:

Kay Mellor at a Headingley LitFest event.             Photo credit Richard Wilcocks

A nice piece here by Zoe Williams - https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/may/17/she-changed-the-way-tv-was-written-zoe-williams-on-kay-mellor

Also an obit here - https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/may/17/kay-mellor-obituary

Leeds Lit Fest Wins Best Literary Festival 2022

 Headingley LitFest is a partner of Leeds Lit Fest. Thanks to all those who voted!

Fiona Gell writes:

LEEDS LIT FEST WINS BEST LITERARY FESTIVAL IN THE NATIONAL SABOTEUR AWARDS FOR THE SECOND TIME

Leeds Lit Fest is excited to announce that it has won Best Literary Festival in the Saboteur Awards 2022. It’s the second time the Festival has won this prestigious national award. The first time was in 2020.

Leeds Lit Fest took place on Saturday 26th Feb to Sunday 6th March this year with more than fifty events over nine days with a mixture of in-person and online events.

The Saboteur Awards, started by Sabotage Reviews, spotlight a diverse range of literary publications, events and writers on the UK indie literature scene and have been running since 2011. The awards are voted for by the public and are much prized and sought after by the writing community.

Carl Hutton, Chair of Leeds Lit Fest and CEO of the Leeds Library said, “When we first discussed the opportunity for Leeds to have a literature festival 5 years ago, all of the partners agreed we wanted to create something that was unique to the city and a new model for literary festivals.  We think we achieved this through a broad mixture of literary inspired events spanning a number of art forms, and so to win this award for the second time, shows that others have recognized that as well.”  

Fiona Gell, Leeds Lit Fest partner from Leeds Big Bookend said: “The Leeds Lit Fest partners are absolutely delighted to have won the Best Literary Festival category in the Saboteur Awards against such strong competition for the second time. It is really humbling to know that people took time out to vote for us and we thank them sincerely. We’re looking forward to 2023 as Leeds gears up for an extraordinary Year of Culture and we cannot wait to be part of that celebration.”

Photo: Best Literary Festival, The Saboteur Awards 2022.

Photographic images from the Festival can be found here. Please credit photographer Michael Godsall

For further information and media requests contact Fiona Gell, Leeds Lit Fest partner at enquiries@leedslitfest.co.uk| 07742 861889

 

Poet James Nash at Weetwood Primary

Sally Bavage writes: 

Africa and the Slave Trade

Year 5 study the history, geography and culture of Africa during the summer term and this coincided with the visits by our commissioned poet James Nash, whose work at Weetwood primary school had been delayed this year by Covid.

What a strong topic to engage with the creative writing of poetry led by a master of his art! The rich imagery, the sounds and smells, the enjoyment of village life, the sense of menace lurking in the centuries when slave trading took place. Year 5 absolutely engrossed themselves in their work and responded by writing so many heartfelt poems they were bursting with pride to read out in a sharing assembly with parents and other teachers present.

The youngsters draft and edit their work, share with friends and other peers, then finally to a whole class assembly. An important part of this poetry project, funded by local councillors, is learning how to read out and present your work to an audience. It's a lifeskill that cannot be taught but which has so much value in future years.

James Nash with Joanne Parker

Elephants bathing in the river, the smell of cooking rice, the sound of laughing children at play, sitting on the beach watching the waves. Village life goes steadily on. But no. A smell of fires not from cooking pots, a feeling of foreboding, a youngster traumatised by the loss of his family, a fear for the future of the country, seeing the ghosts of those taken. And expressed in vocabulary that was so mature and empathetic, some using the rhythm of their lines to create a n unnerving drumbeat.

“My long-gone baby brother, murdered at five months old”

“Even though his soft skin will never touch my mother's hand again.”

I'm too scared to go to sleep”

My family, only alive and well in my mind.”

“I see them coming, coming, coming”

I dream, I dream, I dream of a world with no war. When tribes can trade in peace”

”I dream of my father - all I have left of him is a mask”

“Sunlight over a sleeping village”

“Huddling under a shared blanket”

“Warm sand glitters in the ocean-blue air”

“Friends, dead or taken, are alive in our hearts”

“A boat of misery, full of traders”

I have to pinch myself that these lines have been written and are being read out by youngsters who are nine or ten years old. And they listen so attentively to each other's work, a skill many adults have yet to acquire!

As one mum said, “My son has improved his vocabulary so much with this work, and his confidence in himself and his ability has just soared.” A dad also commented, “This is a brilliant introduction to poetry, a way of expressing yourself that goes far beyond the curriculum and brings this type of writing to real life.”

Joanne Parker, class teacher, explained that this project was always such a fantastic starting point for creative writing. Even reluctant writers were inspired as their self-esteem goes through the roof. And as for the kudos of working with a Proper Published Poet ...”

Once again, many thanks to the councillors of the Inner North West community committee who graciously funded this work.

The Body Beautiful at Shire Oak

Sally Bavage writes

Year 3 have been studying animals, including humans, as part of their science work this term. They have also worked with the school's favourite Proper Professional Published Poet – James Nash – who returns to the school by acclaim, after more than a two-year pandemic break, and is so warmly greeted by the former year 3's now in year 6 who remember his work with them in December 2019.

This time the young writers were inspired by the skeleton and found it great fun to write, edit and redraft poetry about bodies. And read either their whole poem or their favourite lines to an audience of one hundred staff, other year groups and around twenty parents/carers. I remind myself these are seven or eight years old, with the aplomb of adults and the ability to milk a line here and there. Fantastic.

“I am a spine.

I keep the back up straight and look like a blunt sword without a handle.”

“I am a skull. A face without flesh.”

“I'm a femur, the strongest bone and like a propellor connected to the tibia and fibula.”

“I like to go the NHS. Try to break me!”

“i'm a ribcage and look like a shelter.

Nothing gets out of my cage.”

I'm ribs. I look like a helter skelter.”

“I'm a spine. The shoulders sit on me and squash me. I never get any rest.”

I am a toe bone. I have nine other brothers and sisters.

The fingers are my cousins.”

What imagery. What use of vocabulary.

There were many other comments about keeping these bodies healthy with exercise and nutrition – the scientific learning has definitely struck home and been interpreted through poetry. A LitFest first.

One mum said: “The poetry was so expressive; my son has talked a lot about it at home and really enjoyed it.” A dad commented: “I'm really blown away by the lines my daughter wrote and chose to read out.”

Class teacher Helen Barley was so impressed with the descriptions they used and found several children had really surprised her with their confidence and the quality of their writing. The whole class really enjoyed collecting all the bone words they could use in their verses.

Headteacher Jane Devane was so pleased to have James Nash back in again after the disruptions of the Covid years. She said: “Always so joyful to have James in school, inspiring children to love poetry and see themselves as poets too.”

Last words to the children.

“We've loved learning how to write a poem.”

“Really good fun.”

and, of course,

“Poems don't have to rhyme!”

Grateful thanks are given to the Outer West Area Management Committee of councillors, whose funding for a visiting poet allowed this to go ahead.