Cap'n Bev's session today took inspiration from the wonderful and ever so droll Eckhart Tolle. We spent two magical hours together exploring the concepts of self identity and our journey in this world. We abandoned ourselves to maritime considerations of tide and knot and wind and trip...
and look what marvelous writing ensued!
Our first writing prompt was
moving through the water
and the writers were cast off with a Kay Ryan poem "We're building the ship as we sail it"
The second prompt was
who's listening? listening to whom?
This one was launched by Lucille Clifton's rousing poem "Won't you celebrate with me?"
YOUR WRITING:
Hiraeth : River Bridge Time
That old stone bridge
over River Cairn
stands firm; it’s arc
spans the centuries.
Undercurrents carried
small dream-thoughts of girl
become adult. Drifting, with
twigs, branches dis-connected
from root source of life;
in their oak or ash
family tree.
At dusk, the bats will
flit, like fleeting shards
of phantom memory.
In exile now, she
has had no standing
for years, on bridge-span -
an unspeakable axe:
hurt, hacked, living sap
again and again. Until snap! / dis // connected.
River and bridge
are not forgotten;
with splash-past sounds
by moonlight, sunshine through smirr…
They are still loved.
They once were mine.
//Hiraeth: hear owl hoot
haunt darkening Cairnglen//
© Margaret Watson 2021
Moving through the water
A story of two Uncles
moving through the water
who thought and fought to save life
throughout the filthy slaughter
of a war.
Uncle Gerry, quiet Navy man
escorted Atlantic convoys
through the deadly cold grey waters,
past the bleak Norwegian shores; aiming to? -
bring aid, to a starving Russian people.
Fascist ships, the vicious Tirpitz,
submarines, and air bourne bombs
all aim to sink and kill him and his crew.
Uncle Ted, quiet scientist,
expert bomb disposal worker.
Until that Nazi bomb exploded
in his face. Permanently blinded…
Yet, moving through Lake waters
by boat – with wise hands on oars
he would discern the direction, depths,
winds, cross- currents – aiming so accurately.
And navigated this six -year-old niece
up a reed-green beck tributary.
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Tell me now please, what is your aim, if any –
moving through the water? ©Margaret Watson 2022
Moving through the water
by Doreen Kelly
Have you any idea the effort it takes to appear competent in the water?
Most of the time I am frantically doggy paddling to keep up with the party boat, the "normal" people are on.
Oh the relief when the boat stops in a harbour. It is lifesaving because I can turn onto my back, float and conserve energy. The effort it would take to climb on board is not worth it. I will only fall overboard again when the boat leaves harbour.
At least in the water I am supported and if I stay away from the boat I am less likely to be buffeted around too much.
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Links that cropped up today
Doreen Kelly's book "Gems from a Creative Mind" (just search for that) is now available on ebay
Eckhart Tolle - many talks available on youtube
Angie's whisky competition expired on the 17th, sorry! But here's her
performance on Standard Habbie (second half)
Forugh Farrokhzad - I discovered this Iranian poet on BBC this week and can honestly say I feel changed by it! Listen here
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Session chat... in case you missed some comments.
Doreen: link to book (see note above)
Mary: Hi everyone. can't get sound. Happy New Year
Aileen: Hi Mary if you try leaving the meeting and rejoining that might work
Catrice: Bev, when you have a chance would you mind sharing his name in an email or the link to his Ted Talk, please? I’d love to look him up and check out the Ted Talk! Sounds Amazing! Thank you.
Catrice: Great intro, Bev. Thank you. 💜
Bev: Moving through the water
Angie: https://www.masterofmalt.com/blog/post/burns-night-poetry-competition-2022-win-glengoyne-21-year-old.aspx
Jo: thanks all, bye all xx
Catrice: Take care Jo. See you again soon.
Angie: Is it ok if I post the link of a poem that I was commissioned to write for The Loud Poets? Its in the Standard Habbie form.
Aileen: I want to see it Angie
Bev: please Angie!
Angie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ezHTgxYCl4
Bev: who's listening, listening to whom
Doreen Kelly: I would like to hear from the marginalised. Those thrown out of society. Perhaps those cold and hungry on the street. However I am a scaredy cat and would need to feel safe in order to hear. In e to hear the voice of My God and speak with their authority in order to be heard.
Angie: That was a fabulous session. It has given me a lot to think about. What a wonderfully, warm and encouraging crowd have attended today. The poetry has been amazing. xx
Doreen: Thank you everyone
Catrice: Thank you, Bev. Truly incredible session.
Karen: Thankyou. I so needed that. Bless you all💕
Kath: Lovely to see all the cheerful familiar faces, and lovely introduction, Bev, but I am falling asleep here with temp at 34
so I'm sure I'm not going to manage to write. Wanted to get a taste of the sessions though, so hopefully will be back for more if temps begin to drop again. Thanks for the invite.
Lapidus Scotland gratefully acknowledges the support of Scottish Book Trust,
Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership's "Wellbeing for Longer in Glasgow Fund" (managed by Impact Funding Partners).
Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership's "Wellbeing for Longer in Glasgow Fund" (managed by Impact Funding Partners).
