anthology.behind the poem
TRANSCRIPT
Anthology | Behind The Poem...
Anthology | Behind The Poem...
Contents Foreword ..............................................................................................................6Acknowledgements .............................................................................................8Introduction ........................................................................................................10 Our Pencils Are The Speakers - Diane Hinchliffe, 22 May 2015 ........................13 Residents Poetry- Which Way To Go - Les, Rose, Effie, 4 August 2015 ....................................15- Passing Into Eternity - Les, Effie, Rose, Mary, 28 July 2015 ........................15- When We Go Out Of This World - Eda, 3 August 2015 ................................16- I Want To Know - Louise, 10 August 2015 ......................................................17- You Don’t Know Where You Are - Rose, Mary, Effie, Ada, 18 August 2015 ....18- Frosty Washing - Eda, 24 August 2015 ..........................................................19- I’ll Still Keep Going - Barbara , 21 July 2015 ................................................20- I’m O O - Barbara, 28 July 2015 .....................................................................20- The Thought Of Spring - Dorothy, 4 August 2015 ........................................21- The Horse And The Shirt - Dorothy, 4 August 2015 .....................................21- The Tree That Could Tell A Few Stories - Pauline, Molly, Doreen, Doreen, Leonora, Louise, 3 August 2015 ....................................................................22- The Beautiful Garden - Pauline, August 2015 ..............................................23- When John Betjeman Came To Tea - Eda, 24 August 2015 ........................24- His Pot Of Tea And Cream Cake - Mary, 14 August 2015 ...........................25- A House And A Home - Les, 14 August 2015 ...............................................26- This Old Granny - Pauline .............................................................................28- Shell, Cradle, Swan - Louise, 13 July 2015 ...................................................29- Empty Seats - Leonora, Doreen, Doreen, Pauline, Esther, Molly, Louise, 24 August 2015 ..................................................................................30- The Gift - Eda, 3 August 2015 .......................................................................32- Poetry To Me - Pauline, Leonora, Esther, Doreen, Doreen, Molly, Louise, 24 August 2015 ..................................................................................33 Behind The Poem - Diane Hinchliffe, July 2015 ................................................34
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This selection of poems demonstrates a number of things: first of all, that people in care homes, including those with memory loss, respond well to a stimulus, particularly that of the reading and making of poems: it enhances their quality of life individually, and contributes to the development of fellow-feeling; secondly, it shows that there is no loss of creativity in ageing, rather often a blossoming of it; thirdly, that in Diane Hinchliffe we have an exceptionally talented and empathetic person who should be congratulated on what has been achieved here in a very short time, and given many more opportunities to build upon the successes of this pilot project. John Killick
John Killick has a national reputation and extensive experience for producing high quality work as a writer, poetry and drama/theatre practitioner working with older people including people living with dementia. For the past twenty years he has worked with people with dementia, publishing five books in this area, many book chapters and papers, and edited six books of poems by people with the condition.
Foreword
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Arts Council England - for funding the project. CidaCo - for additional funding from their developing artist grant fund.
A special thanks to the following who, at different points in the project, have supported, encouraged, guided, mentored, and helped me to hold on to, grow and realise my vision for this project: John Killick - Poet; Keith Evans - CidaCo; Helen Ball – Civic Barnsley; Wendy Roper – Barnsley Local Authority; Ralph Dartford – A Firm of Poets; Tony Shephard – Shephard Creative.
The project would not have been possible without the interest and enthusiasm of the activities coordinators, Helen and Susannah, at the two care homes involved - Mapplewell Manor and Highgrove, who both saw a wonderful opportunity for residents and chased me for it! Thank you also to managers for saying yes to the project, and for allowing care staff Andrea and Michelle to play their part in supporting the project.
Most importantly a big thank you to the residents at the two care homes for engaging with the project in such a wonderful way, allowing their stories to become words expressed through a poem.
Eda, Pauline, Esther, Doreen, Molly, Louise, Lenora, Doreen, Betty, Kathleen, and Les, Rose (Piroska), Mary, Effie, Ada, Dorothy, Barbara.
Acknowledgements
FIRM OF POETSA
‘Behind the poem’ brings together a selection of poems created with and by older people including those with dementia, who participated in a care home residency programme, June to August 2015, exploring the impact of poetry upon wellbeing.
Over a period of 11 weeks I worked in two care homes in Barnsley creating a total of 116 poems with 17 residents. Coming together in groups or working with me one to one, the Art of Poetry Making allowed people to tell their untold stories - to talk about broken hearts, death and dying, loss of self and how things used to be, hopes and dreams for the future. It provided a vehicle to give voice to these things, and what’s more it enabled these voices to be shared, seen and heard, as poems have been shared with and read aloud for others to hear.
‘Behind the poem’ is a celebration of this body of work and takes the voices shared through the poetry created further into the field.
The poems shared here also featured in an exhibition of the same name ‘Behind the poem’ at Civic Barnsley, November 2015, highlighting all that is valuable about using poetry to tell a story where it may never have been told before.
Diane HinchliffePoet in residence
Introduction
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Our Pencils Are The Speakers
Is it really possible,that wordsfalling fast,from the tip,yet from the depths,offer new perspectiveof visionof untold storiesnow bringinghealingto my soulbeauty to my heart
Could it really be,that my words,helping your words,falling gently into shape,as teardrops fallto the page,our pencilsare the speakers,of what we want to say.
Diane Hinchliffe22 May 2015
Could it really be,these words falling to paperlike teardropstaking shape,smudging outer layersare inner storiesfrom my soul,and this time someone listens,my pencil is the speaker
Which Way To Go
Down the riverThrough the woodUp the streamLeft or rightRound the bendDon’t knowBecause we’re lostIt’s quiet, along the high streetHome and back.
Les, Rose, Effie4 August 2015
Passing Into Eternity
Looks like the woodsLike going through a tunnelThe leaves all meet together
What’s in the middle?
Passing into eternityEternity, fancy thatThe farther you go through itThe less you can be seenDisappearing.
Les, Effie, Rose, MaryEdited by Diane Hinchliffe28 July 2015
Residents Poetry
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When We Go Out Of This World
We go out of this worldA certain length of time.When we dreamWe go away for a while.When we come backIt’s a lovely feeling,of coming home.Yes it isYes, it is.
I did that when I fell twice this week.And when it did happen twiceI thought,wey, wey, no, I’ve not finished my poetry.That’s how it’s got to me.Before, it’s because I haven’t been bothered enoughNow, I feel strong enough.
I’ve so much to say,and so little time to say it.
Eda 3 August 2015
I Want To Know
I never went a walk without weighing things upI like to look over the fieldsand see what’s behind themI don’t just walkI just want to see,what’s going on somewhere elseI like to delveI like to delve into thingsWhether it’s walks or…
I must see the other sideDown past this fenceI want to know what’s behind that fenceI do like to delveYes I doVery much soI want to know the beginning and the endI want to know how things begin and how they end.
Louise10 August 2015
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You Don’t Know Where You Are
I am on a floating ship,peaceful and quiet,sea all around.The ships lit up.The lights look beautiful in the night.The lights of the ship look beautiful in the night.You can hear the sirens, in the dark of the night,they are very loud.
Swaying from side to side, rolling around. You don’t know where you are, looking around.There is blue skyI love to fly up in the skyMy imagination going up in the moonSaw what it looked like, in the beautiful skyIt’s lovely, you know, beautiful sky.Because it’s flowing around,and, I love to watch it, going around.
I want to know where we are going.I don’t know.Been to so many places.We started up in Scotland,been for picnics, been to dances,on the floating ship. Rose, Mary, Effie, Ada18 August 2015
Frosty Washing
On a frosty morningMy washing dancing on the lineIt takes on an appearance,of a person in a taffeta dress.
They are as stiff as ifthey’ve completed their job,and they’re tired outat the end of a day,on a frosty morning.
Eda24 August 2015
The Thought Of Spring
The thought of spring comingThe nice weatherThe summer time beginsLight nightsAnd morningsAnother year of livingAnother year of living
Dorothy4 August 2015
I’m O O
I’m O OO OWhen I first came here I didn’t work hereFed up,cos I’m O O nowI’m nearly finishedI’ll not be longI’m O OThat means I’m nearly ready for goingAnother O O,finishedI’m getting oldand I’m finishingI’m getting old you see,very oldI like to keep on, as much as I canJust depends how old I amwhen it comes to itIf I wantI can keep going onI don’t knowAt 80 year old.
Barbara 28 July 2015
I’ll Still Keep Going
I’ll not be longAs I’m goingI’ll still keep goingDon’t matter how long it takesI’ll still keep goingOn and onHere and thereEverywhere
Barbara 21 July 2015
The Horse And The Shirt
In the seventieswe went to Dorset,in the caravan.In the field where we stayed,it was lovely.
Lovely scenery.
There were horses in the field,my son’s shirt was on the washing line,the horse took a piece out of itIt was funnyand he didn’t mind.
It was a beautiful holiday.
Dorothy4 August 2015
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The Tree That Could Tell A Few Stories
It’s white, it’s different, shape and everything.It’s very old, but even so,each branch could tell its own story.It’s an unusual tree,very thick trunk -Only three different parts growing out of it.A figure with legs outstretched.It’s a tree that’s been made into another item.‘The Tree’ like nothing I’ve seen before.It’s lacking in branches.It looks like it’s naked.Looks bare.Not particularly attractive.
Do you know, I think these branches could tell their own story. They’ve been there long enough. If ‘The Tree’ could only talk, it would solve everything!
Pauline, Molly, Doreen, Doreen, Leonora, Louise.Facilitated by Helen Smith3 August 2015
The Beautiful Garden
In this garden there are beautiful trees in full leafand lawns like velvet under feet,and trees with shining brown barkand fresh green leavesIt is a place for children to playin a sandpit out of the sun and have fun, and not get burntThe little stream runs byand a bridge to cross to the other sideYou can see the little tadpoles turn into frogsthat come, after the rainBut best of all a big white petrified dogwith paws stretched out,and his face is surprised to see the lovely grass between his feetOne ear hanging down his faceHis arms reach out of his headOut of his arms his fingers feel the leaves aboveAnd he says, oh, in surpriseAnd his eyes look really sad.
It really is a beautiful place,perhaps in years to come he will want a lovely place to be his home,he will look happy again,even if it’s just to stand in the rain,when the storm comes around again.
PaulineAugust 2015
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When John Betjeman Came To Tea
When he came,he came in with one of Ron’s carved wood fishes,and he stroked it all the way through.He said Mrs W,because that’s what they used to call me,I shall never wake up, without touching thisin the morning,my good luck charm.Such a nice bloke.
Eda24 August 2015
His Pot Of Tea And Cream Cake
He was greatHe used to bring us all over the placeHe used to come up to YorkshireEvery summerHe came, summer and ChristmasHe always came on my birthdayHe used to bring us to DerbyshireAll around that part of the countryThe Lake DistrictHe brought us all over.
I wouldn’t know Yorkshire, only for himHe brought us everywhereFrom Derbyshire to ThirskFrom Thirsk to …I forget mostAnd to York We went to York, to the racesHe brought us all over the placeHe brought me all around.
Then we always go to get a pot of tea, a cream cakeHis cream cakes always in DerbyshireHis cream cakes and his pot of teaAnd then we’d have a mealI have lovely memories of him as well.
Mary 14 August 2015
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A House And A Home
I married June at twenty oneMy heart never stopped thumpingWe had the speechesThen to LondonFor our honeymoon
All going nicely on the trainThen it started to slow down,And come to restIn PontefractI said, I’m hungryAnd went to get a packet of crispsIn the stationThe train left, with my wife onLeaving me behind
I chased the train to LondonAnd she was sat on a benchWaitingNot very happyWe honeymooned in LondonSaw all the big shopsWent to see a showThe week passed on quickly
We caught the train back homeThe train stopped at RetfordI stood up to get offFor another packet of crispsI felt a big hand on my shoulder
We were married fifty seven yearsLived in a small villageQuiet, But nice and easy goingSince thenThree childrenGrandchildrenGreat grandchildren
They look after me well enoughBut still, you miss your own people.
Les14 August 2015
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This Old Granny
This old granny of minewho sat in the chairand made the most beautiful mats I have ever seenthey looked like a dream.Sometimes she saidI can show you howbut she worked so fastmy eyes could not keep pacehow ever I tried.I tried againwhen I got olderbut it’s not the sameI must try again.
Pauline
Shell, Cradle, Swan
It reminds me of a baby’s cradle,makes me want to rock it.The baby will fall asleep,and would have a good night’s sleepafter having a rock in this.It would have to be a very young baby.It makes me feel like rocking.Look after my cradle.When you turn it over it looks like a swan.
Louise13 July 2015
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There’s got to be a reason, why they’re all here.It’s a bit depressing, because there’s nobody around.I’m just looking, it’s not sunshine, its snow.The sun must be shining because there’s no shadow.It makes me feel lonely.Not uplifting.You’ve got to think,It’s what you make it.
Leonora, Doreen, Doreen, Pauline, Esther, Molly, Louise24 August 2015
Empty Seats
They’ve lost their owners.Well, there’s nobody around.They’ve lost their owners,but they’ve gained as well.There’s no children,and there should be, in a park.Don’t know why,perhaps the seats are wet.It can’t be a nice dayYou’ve got to think, there’s a reason, why they’re all there.It gives me a feeling of loneliness.It looks like these seats need decorating.It wouldn’t be like this on a nice day.They don’t match.They need painting.With your friends, sat together, and doing a conflab together.I should think there’ll be a lot there.Each ones got a different meaning.It’s the togetherness.
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The Gift
When you read somethingyour imagination comes into it.You can see it.You can pick it up, as if it was real.It’s a nearness,but not a nearness.Disappearing and coming back.Disappearing and coming back.Poetry is wonderful.And the searching,the magic paper,you can fill this sheet,of magic paper.
You have the wonderful giftof being able to fill this sheet of paper.It’s a gift.It’s a gift.Thank god for it!There is a jewel inside this page.You’ve got the sheet to use again and again.It’s marvellous really.
Eda 3 August 2015
Poetry To Me
It means a lot more than it did.It isn’t all to rhyme,but it comes into to it quite a bit.It gives different impressions.It’s brought me to know more people, and friends.I’ve usually been a loner, but it’s brought it out in me.It’s sort of getting over what you want to tell people,and say it in a nice way.It’s nice to sit and listen to other people getting together.Most things,every time you go out, all the time,introduces special times that creep up on you.Poetry in motion.
Pauline, Leonora, Esther, Doreen, Doreen, Molly, Louise24 August 2015
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Behind The Poem
The poembehind the poem,behind the words,behind the wordslies the stillness of the soul,whose voice to be heardrequires that,welisten,see,and listen again,to the unspoken,behindthe spoken word.
Diane HinchliffeJuly 2015
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2015