Heartline Writers - Phenomenal Woman

Poetry, stories and singing for International Women’s Day 

Richard Wilcocks writes:

In Headingley’s Heart Centre, the Shire Oak Hall was full. A Powerpoint display was beginning on the large screen, ready to inform those present of the names of poets and their poems, and the now-traditional table of home-made cakes was in position at the back of the audience. This event is well-established, an essential part of the local calendar. Liz McPherson introduced the proceedings.

 

                                                                                                                  Photo by Richard Wilcocks

First image on the screen was of Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani activist who was shot in the head by the Taliban for publicly advocating education for women and girls, but who fortunately recovered from her wounds to become world famous. Karen Byrne had her in mind when she read her poem Afghan, which is in the style of a letter of protest – ‘I have to hide my face/ I have to forget my dreams’.

 

Eileen Neil read two poems. She acknowledged that she had been influenced by Maya Angelou in writing The Call, which contains a list of legendary women from a range of cultures. It ends with ‘They are coming – the Rainbow Generation’. She was inspired by a violin concerto by Michael Daugherty entitled Blue Elektra to write a poem with the same name. Its subject is Amelia Earhart, mysteriously lost somewhere in the Pacific while trying to circumnavigate the world in 1937.

 

Cate Anderson gave us another true story entitled Refuge, which emerged from her extensive research. This was full of information (and reminders) about what it was like in 1971 in England, when people tended to make statements like ‘Marriage is the high point of a woman’s life’ while not doing much of a practical nature about domestic violence. Activist Erin Pizzey was mentioned as a pioneer, the founder of a domestic violence shelter in a two-bed derelict house in West London, which expanded and led to the establishment of many others.

 

Jackie Parsons’s poem Chocolate Cakes and Atom Bombs provided us with the fascinating image of the nuclear physicist Robert Oppenheimer sitting in a café in Los Alamos, his mouth full of the cake sold by the owner, Edith Warner. This was followed by Woman, a memoir poem about her beloved nan.

 

Bill Fitzsimons presented us with his poem Greta, about the famous environmental campaigner. Her surname, according to Bill, should be ‘Thunderberg’. His other poem was Universal Mother, about what mothers have to endure: ‘the price is paid by woman’.

 

Marie Paule Sheard took us to India for her fact-packed Story of Mrs Phule and Fatima Sheikh. These were two nineteenth-century campaigners who challenged ancient beliefs and customs connected with Caste and religion, when ‘the only value of women was the dowry and the siring of boys’’.

 

                                                                                             Photo by Richard Wilcocks

Acapella group Harissa (pictured above) then stepped forward, ten well-rehearsed women. In amongst folk songs, they sang a beautiful madrigal composed by John Wilbye in the late sixteenth century. That must have taken some special rehearsing! With an excellent balance of high and low voices, it was fit for a queen, as it had to be four centuries ago.

 

Linda Marshall, well-known to Headingley LitFest and to poetry groups far and wide, appeared on the screen as she was unable to be present. The Coat was about seemingly ordinary women who are really extraordinary, and The New Housekeeper is an amusing account of a rebellious woman who causes havoc, changing the locks and ‘calling up her cavalry of cutlery’.

 

Barbara Lawton presented an account of the life of Dr Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, born in Whitechapel, London in 1836. She was faced with all the usual prejudices when she was wanting to become a doctor, but she eventually made it, founding a hospital for women staffed by women near Euston Station.

 

Myrna Moore’s poem Nanny of the Maroons, about a key rebel woman in Jamaica’s history, begins with the line ‘She grabbed a cudgel’ and ends with ‘She likkle but she Tallawah’, an expression which can be used for the island of Jamaica as well. Tallawah is patois for strong. The second poem was Bertha, the ‘mad woman in the attic’ in Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, who was brought to England from the Caribbean. Her actual name, according to Jean Rhys’s 1966 novel The Wide Sargasso Sea is Antoinette, and the poet adopts her voice to describe her life with Rochester ‘guarded like an escaped prisoner’.

 

Dru Long took us to Iran in Woman Life Freedom, mindful of the brave women there who resist their theocratic government’s harsh laws about wearing head coverings. She connected the women who have died at the hands of the ‘morality police’  with famous suffragettes of the early twentieth century who died for the cause, like Emily Davison in 1913.

 

Malcolm Henshall was influenced in writing his poem Mother and Child by his professional life as a Special School teacher before he retired. Many of the parents he encountered were single mothers. He admitted worrying about his ability to write poetry, but he needn’t have, because his play with the words tears, fears and cares was terrific, the rhymes and repetitions working well. His Angels, a short piece about nurses, drew plenty of applause: ‘applause don’t pay the bills’.

 

Liz McPherson returned for the final reading. This is Reconstruction was a moving poem about her grandma, remembered as ‘clicking her teeth like knitting needles’. The second poem Vade Mecum was like a book of memories, rather confessional but ‘not just about me’. She revealed that she has not been to actual confession for fifty years. I can only gasp.

 

Harissa came back to finish off an enjoyably mind-stimulating morning show with Girls just wanna have fun. Surely we don’t have to wait another year for something like this.

 

 

 

'Where I live' at Shire Oak Primary School

The Poet’s Blog

It was World Book Day and I felt seriously underdressed. I  was at Shire Oak Primary School ,  in Year 2’s classroom and I was surrounded by young people dressed as favourite characters from books.   All the children had made such an effort, including Helen Barley the class teacher (pictured) who was in  dragon costume.

 

It was my final visit to the class, and we were about to get ready to share our work.

In previous sessions we had used the theme of ‘Where We Live’ to talk about the houses we lived in,  favourite buildings in Headingley and even favourite trees.  The enthusiasm of the children was boundless.  In no time they had written their first ideas down and many of them had read their writing out to the whole class. 

 

We then talked about how to turn those initial ideas into a first draft of a poem by choosing their best lines and deciding on the best order to put them in. I showed them what I had done to turn my first ideas into a poem, knowing in my heart of hearts that some of the children’s writing, in its freshness and originality, would outstrip my own 

 

We decided together that poems did not have to rhyme but that it was sometimes effective to have a rhythm running through them.

 

‘I would take a picture of everything’ one young poet began their writing,

 and another wrote

 

‘my house has a cat

That is so red that

It warms me up

Every time I see him’.

 

And I have to pinch myself to remember that my young poets are only six or seven years old.

 

On this final session we talk about what we have learned together, before finishing off our poems and getting ready to have them recorded so that parents can see what their children have achieved.  They are very keen to share their work, particularly as they feel so proud of what they have written.

 

One by one read some the whole poem or some  a favourite line from their writing.  They read beautifully, and I’m left with a wonderfully inspired feeling, with the final line of one poem still in my head as I walk home,

 

‘My favorite tree

Is my apple tree in my back garden,

It welcomes me with a smile.’

 

#James Nash 3^rd March 2023

 

Wild Weather at Spring Bank

 Sally Bavage writes: 

Not a forecast but a foretaste as I was gusted into reception.  Poetry written by year 3 this week provided all the considerations of weather you could want.  Once again James Nash, local writer and poet, led the youngsters to explore their creativity and consider, write, edit and share their own writing, first amongst themselves and then as a finale in front of the whole school and around thirty parents and grandparents.  At age seven or eight years old, would you have been confident doing that?!

 

They mostly were and did.  Yes, a few nerves beforehand and the odd wobbling lip, but aplomb took over and you'd never have guessed it from the confidence with which these petite poets read out their work to the audience. Some read out all their work, some read a snippet to give us a taste of their writing; all of them gave us imagery and occasionally a glimpse of the inner thespian as they relished their moment in the sun.  Sorry, couldn't resist that.

 

It's really a privilege to see how these pupils rise to the challenge and enjoy writing and declaiming their own work.  The secret is that this project allows them to write about what interests them, and demonstrate what they can do – not quite always the case under the national curriculum.  This year group have had a hard time recently; you might call them the 'pandemic generation' as most of their schooling has been disrupted by absence and lack of continuity. 

Offering a free-flowing project to use poetry to inspire a joy in using the written word to express original ideas was a splendid gift, said class teacher Mrs Baruah.  She continued, “It's such a joy to see how they have risen to this challenge throughout this week as they contributed ideas, personal viewpoints and a chance to develop their vocabulary.  They gave us such trust.” 

 

Class teaching assistant Adam Bickerdike added, “It has been so very rewarding to see how some pupils have really surprised us with their creativity and willingness to engage, even from the confines of autism.”   Some of the parents and grandparents also confided just how delighted they were to have been invited by children both excited and nervous.It was fun,” Working with a real poet” and  “Poems don't have to rhyme” were some of many comments offered by the class. 

The project will now produce an anthology of all their work, even some contributions from the parents who were invited back to the classroom after the assembly (they all squeezed in somehow, delighted to be asked.)  They were then challenged to write some lines of their own to add to the anthology!  So the legacy of this work lives on, not just with the development of the creative writing process but a collection of the work and a talking point with parents and grandparents, some of whom expressed a desire to continue to follow up the poetry spark that had been ignited. 

Grateful thanks to the Inner North West area management committee of Leeds City Council, especially local councillors, who granted the funding for this work.

 

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