Amazing where art takes you

campaigning in Bristol in 2010

Sometimes our creative work takes us in surprising new directions; and this is one example of that, which happened to me over the last few days.

One small step after another, I found myself taken from that famous painting The Scream, by Edvard Munch, to issues and campaigns about female genital mutilation (FGM)*. Surprisingly, there weren't very many steps in this process.

I wrote the poem below in response to that painting, The Scream, which Munch completed in 1893. Art of all kinds is one of my constant inspirations.

I wanted to call the poem 'Silent Scream', but the title sounded familiar, so I checked it out. I discovered that it is the title of a number of films about abortion, but it is also the title of a film, made by a group of schoolgirls in the Bristol area, that forms part of their campaign to raise awareness about FGM and to get it stopped. They reckon that 20,000 girls in the UK are currently at risk of female genital mutilation. See the link below. So, I dedicated the poem to all those girls who are at risk of this barbaric practice.

I read it at the Poems and Pints live literature event in Carmarthen last night. Comments from other women there suggested to me that FGM is indeed still practiced widely in the UK, and that health professionals here collaborate in this practice, which has been illegal here since 1985.

Coincidentally, today there is a report on BBC News online about a new study into the numbers of women in England and Wales who have undergone female genital mutilation.

The aim is to update a 2007 analysis which suggested more than 66,000 women had undergone a form of ritual cutting, with some 24,000 girls at risk.

*Female genital mutilation (FGM) involves the partial or total removal of the female genital organs, sometimes only leaving a small hole for urination or menstruation.
Campaigners say some communities in the UK with origins in Africa, the Middle East or Asia believe it is a necessary part of becoming a woman, that it reduces female sex drive and therefore the chances of sex outside marriage.
The practice can be life-threatening and women who have been cut often experience pain during sexual intercourse and problems during child birth and menstruation.

Here's the poem: 

Silent scream

Do you feel it?

The Scream, by Edvard Munch, 1893

do you feel the scream?

It is not hers, nor his,

not mine,

all of us are this cry.

Do you feel

this thing beyond senses?

Its desolation breathes through us

and wreathes us

in a veil so dark

there is no sight, nor sound;

nothing to touch or taste.

Black air moves around,

seeps into us, becomes us;

unseeing, unseen, unheard.

Only bleak despair

dwells in our silence.

In this darkest place

none of us can know our name.

 

and the links:  

http://integratebristol.org.uk/2011/06/14/silent-scream/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-23404970

Gin

Glass shines in sunlight,

taste sharp of lime skin; watch the

crystal bubbles cling.

Evening haiku

This golden field rests

in quiet sun of evening;

cool breeze sharpens night.

Morning meadow

Swallow scythes low air

as deep morning meadow weeps;

wings whisper of you.

 (photo: RSPB, Ynys Hir)

Poetry of power

cool white against blue,
hear the music of air currents,
feel this gentle strength
as sails turn.

Dare to catch the point,
fly up and up,
higher than the fairground wheel
- and fall then toward earth.

Glide and slide,
circle the flow, make
wide the arcs from below,
fly free at the peak.

Know the dream,
positive energy,
poetry of power.

LINK: community energy project in Cardigan: aweldeg.org.uk

Poet Laureate and National Poet of Wales at PENfro

Carol Ann Duffy

Some very exciting news that I announced this week -- Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy and the National Poet of Wales Gillian Clarke will both feature in a double-bill at this year’s PENfro Book Festival.

The literature event, now in its third year, is held at Rhosygilwen, Cilgerran, in north Pembrokeshire.

We also have top scriptwriter Lucy Gannon (Coronation Street, Eastenders, Soldier Soldier, Frankie) who will discuss her work in one of the ‘meet the writers’ sessions.

The evening with Carol Ann Duffy and Gillian Clarke, which will include readings from their work, headlines the programme on the Saturday, September 14, in the fabulous Oak Hall, Neuadd y Dderwen.

All of us on the PENfro committee are delighted about this news.

 

The PENfro festival is set to launch on the evening of Thursday, September 12, with a lively musical and literary evening; and runs until the Sunday afternoon, September 15.

There will be plenty going on throughout the event for people of all ages who love books.

Popular local live literature group The Cellar Bards and Friends take the stage in the Oak Hall on the Friday evening with performances and readings of a wide range of poetry and prose from guests --  and there will be an open mic session.

The winners of the first PENfro Poetry Competition will be announced at this event and the shortlisted candidates will be invited to read their work.

There is a day of workshops for writers and would-be writers on the Saturday, covering everything from poetry to fiction, to screenwriting, journalism and e-publishing.

The popular Book Fair is on the Sunday and there will be opportunities to meet several local authors at book launches as well as to attend interviews and talks by many writers.

There will be events for children on Saturday and Sunday and the winners of the

children’s short story competition will be announced during the weekend.

More news will follow over the next few weeks as the programme details are confirmed.

For updates see the website: http://penfrobookfestival.org.uk

or follow us on Facebook -- PENfro Book Festival.

  *This project has received funding from PLANED through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007 – 2013,  which is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development.