The project is not exclusive; others should take up the challenge and use creative methods to allow those affected directly or indirectly by the troubles to express themselves (and have their feelings expressed) in safe and imaginative ways. the more people take up the gauntlet, the more the project will become self sustainable and increase its validity.
The scheme was invented by Dave Wood and hosted by
The Cnocnafeola Centre
Bog Road, Atticall
County Down, BT34 4RZ
028 4176 5859/2952
email info[at]mournehostel.com
(replace [at} with @)
The fuller blogsite will be launched within the month of July. If you would like to contact Dave Wood, please email davewrite2002[at]yahoo.com (replace [at} with @)
As the project is ongoing, the blog will be updated on an as and when basis.
All parties are grateful for the financial assistance of the Comunity Relations Council for the project.
press release to promote the project
The Cnocnafeola Centre
Atticall
County Down, BT34 4RZ
028 4176 5859/2952
The following is the initial press release to advertise the project.
Date as received
Press release for immediate use
Creative Peace Project in Atticall
first launch of fresh idea
Nottinghamshire wordsmith, Dave Wood, is returning to Northern Ireland for his second visit to Atticall to develop a topical, exciting, cross-community and reconciliation project. He has a week’s notice to prepare and pack the tools of his trade – pens and paper!
Community Arts Worker, Dave Wood, is coming to Northern Ireland to add a new dimension to the peace process – poetry and the arts. No stranger to the shores, the last time he came, he got the warmest of welcomes at the Cnocnafeola Centre and even had some poems translated by a local Irish scholar and traditional singer.
Dave says, It was a beautiful weekend and the place is stunning. After chatting with Mairead at the hostel and finding out about her own essential work in the community, it was obvious we had to put a collaborative project that drew together as many strands of reconciliation as possible.
Mairead says I recently attended a three day conference called the Challenge of Change. It was all about diversity in communities struggling with division, so it fits perfectly with what the creative project is all about, she finishes.
On 21st June, Dave will be flying over to make his way to start the process in the evening. He’ll be out and about, helping all kinds to create poems and stories as well as give views and opinions about how communities can be brought together. He’ll be at Atticall until the Sunday, so make sure you get hold of him to come to your group or even family. As well as travelling on the buses, he'll be visiting the local shops and health centres and sporting organisations...then there's his plans to work with elderly, church, social, political and youth groups...
At home, he’ll type it all up then return September with a series of readings and exhibitions.
If you fancy having a poet come to your door, ring the Cnocnafeola Centre on 028 4176 5859/2952 and they'll try and arrange it. These are exciting times for the Mournes where everything seems possible.
We are grateful for the assistance from the Community Relations Council for helping to implement the project.
ends
press contact
The Cnocnafeola centre
Atticall
County Down, BT34 4RZ
Creative Reconciliation in the Mournes is one cog of a growing universal methodology. It was invented to utilise the arts to enable the membership of two divided communities of the Mourne Valley to express themselves at a deeper level, much more so than using the standard fora.
The two parties involved in this particular schemewere the Cnoc na feola Centre in Atticall ( Northern Ireland ) and myself; protagonist and arts worker, Dave Wood.
We had previously planned a week of imaginative activities around the Easter break 2006; drawing together both Protestant and Catholic societies into joint celebratory activity. This initial idea for the project had to be shelved due to failure of funding. The idea was re-scheduled for the Summer with monies still being an issue..
The financial support finally turned up from the Community Relations Council (NI) with a week and a half’s notice.
With a minimal amount of time to organise and market the scheme, it was agreed we should split the project in two; the first half would be to gather the raw material for publishing and the second would be dedicated to the celebration, reading, discussion and the wrapping up of the evaluative material.
We planned,that on arrival, I should intensify and be flexible with my approach; talk to as many locals as possible; gather ideas, snippets, soundbites, poems and stories and use whatever source material I found for the venture. Locals were defined by living in Atticall, Kilkeel or were passing through the areas as visitors or tourists.
What slowly outed itself was a keen-ness for reconciliation with a large but attached. The but was commitment and open-ness on both sides. No doubt this slither of doubt shadowed, if not held the process in some kind of local check or limbo. How much commitment was needed and how much could be given? Who’s responsibility was peace? Little reference was given to paramilitary groups; whether out of fear, disdain, respect or antipathy, the participants rarely allowed this issue to surface.
Religion and education came into the melting pot of blame and there was a certain antagonism towards politicians.
The first stepping over the threshold of the Cnoc na feola Centre was already turning up surprises. Those sitting around the table were on a weekend break from Belfast . Mostly men with two female members of staff, the organisation supported those suffering from alcohol abuse. The centre contact, Mairead had also invited a storyteller along for what initially was half an hour. The discussion continued until much later, covering myth, (mis) education, history and legend. Meeting up with this group was to provide the first input for the scheme.
The process for gathering the material was as rough and ready as the final product. The following were all approaches I took to elicit material from the participants;
1) asking questions – both ‘normal’ (e.g.‘what do you think of…?’) and
more abstract/off the wall (e.g. if reconciliation was a landscape –
what would it be?). These allowed a mixture between cerebral and
creative responses to the subject in hand.
2) acrostic poems – writing the word reconciliation down the left
hand side of a page (one letter under another), each poetic idea
began with the corresponding letter
3) interviewing – with mostly me asking what they thought of the
reconciliation process and then sitting back and listening
4) the writer responding poetically – using what had been given or what I’d
experienced, I produced a piece of written creativity.
Creativity is a by-pass of the intellect; an inventive murmuring of ‘just supposes’ and ‘what abouts?’; a small voice which speaks in a language-obscura. Unlike other skills, we never lose it; it just makes us more cynical the less we tap into its roots. So, the more we skirt the slow ponderous mullings of what is deemed practical; the more we delve into new imaginings and new possibilities.
My tenet is simple; all are creative and all can be visionaries, whether they believe so (or decline to be) or not.
The arrival
Just missed the 6pm bus at Dublin airport bus to take me to Newry. The man in the steward's jacket spotted my anxiety and gave an 'all shall be well' look. I took his look as his word and finished off a now mangy cheese sandwich I'd had since getting up that morning.
And on the bus, the man at the back lit up a cigar - there goes what could have been a relatively pleasant journey. After an hour and a quarter, Newry greeted me with a worn out bus stop and I found my lift to Atticall in the shape of Sheila Fitzgerald of www.sluggerotoole.com. Apparently the next bus to Kilkeel was around the 10pm mark.
I handed a bottle of red to my lift as a thanks and walked through. The guests around the table were from an organisation in Belfast that supported recovering alcoholics and drug abusers. As part of their visit, they were learning stress management as well as doing orienteering. After any kind of map handling, I'd certainly need stress management!
There was a also a local story teller who'd agreed to come over for half an hour but stayed for the rest of the evening. One topic that stood out for me was their own school education and the feeling of losing out on information and that information was given with a political bias. The feeling of having to re-learn periods in history was pushed to the fore. The full interview is still to be published.
Wednesday night poetry - dave
(written retrospectively as a response to the conversation with guests round the meal
table at the Cnocnafeola Centre, Atticall)
dry as bones – we’re drunk on conversation then
wine glasses full of water – tea’s up – the heroes
plunder on with questions that have since been
covered up – o history – how did you grow
a different set of horns? we pull the threads
the frayings make life colourful – we un-pick
and ask the more – how do we find the truth that
past has pushed into our veins and stuck
its thorns where disbelief should have seen the lie
o history – o history again – it’s time to top the cup
with medicine – to heal the throat where tongue is dry
we children are the heroes now – let us uncover up
o education – why did you hide the facts?
we that once fed with blunted swords now cleave with
sharpened axe
based on the visit - dave
even within an evening
– facts are stated
knitted together -
smoothed into each adjoining edge
so that they become part and parcel
brothers in the soul
the vine feeding off the wall
and the wall letting the vine
sink into its flesh
then – even after – who will record the
truth that’s left behind?
who will give it flavour- make it palatable?
who will pass the history on
from one mountain to the next?
it is from history
we have had our shapes manufactured
one truth (among the many) is turned belly up
and made us paint the colours wrong
one mountain leans against
the other – insisting
on the facts
atticall haiku - dave
two years from green
there is a bus runs through it
atticall again
who’s mountains are those?
covered in soft soup – fine rain
seeing the mournes
how many corners?
dry stone walls gathering moss
long distinct pauses
mobile phone mast
o you weren’t here before!
pimpled at the crest
the german tourists!
because you prefer the beach
you leave us nothing
paint the sky with cloud
black grey – it doesn’t matter
i am content here
arriving later
alcoholics drinking tea
drunk on the chatter
Thursday morning
Had breaksfast with the group from Wednesday night and talked about possibilities of running a writing workshop with them. They had a full day ahead of them but we said we'd try and fit it in.
The girls who were helping with the breakfasts this morning agreed to create a poem each and I was to collect them later.
Interesting day.... Knowing that the bus service to Kilkeel was not that often (after all, it doesn't necessarily need to be) I made sure I caught the 9.45am outside the local garage/shop/supplier of virtually everything. I collared Sean who happily talked to me and then created two pieces of writing.
Once in Atticall, I spent my time going into shops which weren't so busy and talking to the proprietors and/or assistants about the project. I briefly explained what I was funded for and asked them to create a poem with me supporting (but not suggesting) their ideas about reconciliation. Some of the poems were created using a question-answer process, with the latter providing a rough and ready line of a poem) whilst other pieces used an acrostic system.
Most were happy (though some a little reticent) to oblige, except for the Christian Book Shop who doubted herself too much to help. One shopkeeper was rightly pleased with her output and said she was never encouraged to write at school. The pleasure at creating the first piece encouraged her to produce a second.
poems from 22nd June - various sources
no title
realistically it’s unlikely to see a change in my day
education is the only way to move things forward
creative in the way we go about it
overall view is you’re safer in this community than ten years ago
negative point of view (that’s maybe the way i see it after thirty years
i can’t think of anything beginning with i
likely things will improve – but it will be slowly
i can’t think of anything beginning with i
a sense of humour – you’d have to have or it’s like living in beirut
travel is more likely now the bombing has stopped
i don’t know
opportunities such as international investment have been more forthcoming from overseas
nice to see things changing slowly – even if it is slow – then it’s nice to see the change
sean
reconciliation
break down barriers between two communities
a brick wall
(like the brick wall in berlin)
(it’s only the social side – the churches and education board to blame
the education system and churches
have no communication outside their own religious backgrounds
even sport in northern ireland was segregated)
bred in to them like
a category of animals
only one way of looking at things
if you landed from mars tomorrow
that’s the only way you’d see it
sean
past and present
coming together peacefully
sorting out differences
a hammer
a knife
walls
blockages
mediation
- knock the hammer against the wall
two opposing wavelengths
trying to find the middle ground
for the greater good
bury the knife
bury the blockage
under the past
(green and orange
bleak
hilly and dark
dry rot maybe)
we’re used to it
but we want a better life
for all the children
not just mine
reconciliation
peace
handshakes
putting down guns
picking up flowers
smelling of flowers
roses
red
hand them to someone
to your enemy
my enemies –
bigots
guns
bombs
stones
bottles
something rotten
use a deodoriser
fresh sea air
open spaces
mountain breezes
running water
anon
no title
rest settled
equal – all the same
caring about people – feelings
open
nicer
coming together
i welcome peace with open arms
loving
inside our minds
action to come together
the end of all tension
i – to learn all equal rights
over is the war
never to go back
sandra
they become one
smells like roses
pink
sweet
smooth and not prickly
bunch them together
they’d become one big bunch
they’d stay together
they’d become one
probably peace
sandra
no title
ready to forgive
ever lasting??
compromise
offering peace
never easy
care
it’s worth it
love
i’m sorry!
admittance
time heals
ideal situation created
own up
naïve
kathleen
reason
eating your own words
can be done
offering peace
now – sooner is better than later
consequences
if only it was easy
love
is it right?
a relief
total forgiveness
i’m sorry
only if you’re sorry
nobody cares
deborah
peace
peace
round and soft
white
light
a sweet smell like lavender
i’d throw it up in
the air
to spread it
it would not fall apart
it would scatter and spread
unhappiness
what is the opposite
of reconciliation?
doom and gloom
blackness
darkness
something unpleasant
throw it down
it would disappear
peace
what do you mean?
i’d agree with it
it’s round
white
smells like i don’t know
if it picked it up
it would just stay together
anon
no title
religion seems to be the main obstacle right?
education – be more open
culture should be shared for both communities
often friendship with your opponent
new ideas to create reconciliation
chatting to each other
ill feelings be forgotten about
love one another
invite each other to each others homes
all you can do is find a bond
totally committed to the day of reconciliation
i’d love to see this work
often in the past it hasn’t worked
no more sectarianism – we’ll have reconciliation
john
flags in kilkeel
the ulster flag
white with a red cross
and a red hand
the union jack
supporting the union with britain
the ulster scots
blue with a white or a red cross
the uvf flag
the uda flag
the urvf
the union flag – i don’t have
a problem with
the others i object to
the unionists control the businesses
so these shops don’t open on sunday
no restaurants
a flag for reconciliation
a blue flag with two
white hands shaking
white as the symbol of peace
reconciliation
try it
barbara
a homely place
reconciled
peace and harmony
kidn to your neighbours
smooth would be nice
it wouldn’t be too heavy
a pleasant smell
flowers
perfume
i’d be against the opposite
good things – chapel
catholic church
over a hundred years old
well attended
children come with parents
teenagers
the school is new
good to see new houses
being built
kathleen
no title
cross community togetherness
a sport
a ball between two
children
mixing
cut grass – a nice smell
having to play together
having to help each other
if they don’t have to
they may want to
and they have tried it
sharon
the following are all created by dave wood
a thanks to grants - Atticall
and thursday afternoon – i’m here at grants
(that sell it all – from cake to uniform)
and the smiles you get – enough to make you dance!
at grants - i tell them how the project’s born
grants sell it all – from cake to uniform
but my interest’s in what’s what and in the place
they sit me down and quiz me for some more
they find the folks that weave the finest lace
and the smiles you get – enough to make you dance!
around the back – they cake and tea me full
what’s on my lips are crumbs and many thanks
i’m waking memories out of cotton wool
at grants - i tell them how the project’s born
(grants sell it all – from cake to uniform)
the christian shop
o – i don’t know – oh no – i can’t do that –
the woman at the bible shop draws cold
at poetry and creative chitter chat
what’s gone is gone but never come up gold
the woman at the bible shop draws cold
i thought especially her would shine some light
but no – i can’t do that – her eyeballs roll
i try convincing her – and thought she might
but not at poetry and chitter chat
she won’t go there – her leap of faith stands hard
i say – it’s easy – but on her thoughts she’s sat
and will not budge the thinnest christmas card
what’s gone is gone but never come up gold
the woman at the bible shop draws cold
to flags of all persuasions
round and round the flagpole
red and white and blue
in and out the peace talks
where the tensions brew
oranges and gremlins
say the rumours that deep spin
i owe you some pain dear
The years that held fear dear
the pct
Staff at Kilkeel doctor's surgery were most helpful, but the head office would not let them host myself and the project.
the refusal (2)
we cannot help you out – we’re only space
to help the poorly sick and feed them pills
we see no use of words that may embrace
creative minds – we only see the ills
o give us ills – we’ve got the cures right here
lotions and tablets – trusses and the like
but our clients tremble up when poetics’ near
get thy imagination lost – go ride a bike
poems created retrospectively by the Wedensday night visitors to Cnocnafeola Centre
Peace and tranquility
Enjoyment
Association with responsibility
Comfort and relaxation
Excitement
Archery and balloons
Nonsense and stupidity
Driving each other mad
Relagation
Exercising the goals
Catching the cold
Orienteering
Nature watching
Cakes and tea
Intelligent debating
Laughter and raving
Identity found
Attical the home of Cahill
Teamwork in the maze
Incredible scenery
Ogre in the dinning room
No biscuits left
Brian
Porridge for breakfast
Eggs with the regional fry too
All the toast that you can chew
Coffee on tap inside and out
Evergreen scenery all about
Attractions and activities
Night and day
Deluges of conversations
Relished all the way
Evaluate life and how we evolve
Collectively we strive to
Overcome our differences
Nostalga is rife, it’s all around
Citizenship, a new way of life, we’re EU bound
Internal isolation and low self esteem are gone
Left in the activities, on the mountains of Mourne
Interaction with meaning
Attempts to change
Tranquility and serendipity overtake rage
Influences from activities
Opportunities
New
That’s what Peace and Reconciliation, if you give it a chance, can do for you.
Joe
People in a crowd
Everyone speaking out loud
Amazing exceptionally good
Curry not available only regional food.
Eager excited and anxious to go
Avalanche a flurry of snow
Narrow body slender and thin
Determined never to give in
Rainy wet and damp
Envelope to put on a stamp
Classroom where I used to learn
Oven where food you can burn
Night time when darkness falls
Children some small some tall
Ireland the land where I live
Love is something you can give
Infirm for when you are old
Artic like my life, freezing cold
Tablet in capsule form or pill
Illicit immoral no longer a weak will
Offend is to hurt or annoy
Naughty once but now a reconciling, boy.
Kevin
trip to castlewellan
Not sure what to expect
Passed lots of houses and then into the countryside
Wasn’t expecting the peace and tranquillity
The place took my breath away
Couldn’t take my eyes off the mountains
I felt very close to the mountains, like they were putting their arms around me
Do the people that live here know how lucky they are?
It was awe – inspiring.
It made me think the ancient Irish must have had the same feelings.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the ancient Irish believed that the Gods lived in the mountains,
Like the Druids believed that Gods lives in the mountains and in animals,
I could see in my mind’s eye the Druids praying to the mountains.
We were driving by in the car as they were putting a scar on the side of the mountain,
I don’t know what they were digging for but it would leave a scar on the mountain,
I would liked to have stopped them
I suppose people down there need jobs,
The world is bad enough with out people ruining the beauty.
I enjoyed the camaraderie wit those who went
The people there were very welcoming
They looked like they didn’t have a care in the world
Big red faces, hearty healthy looking people
That night I needed no medication.
Michael
Thursday morning
Had breaksfast with the group from Wednesday night and talked about possibilities of running a writing workshop with them. They had a full day ahead of them but we said we'd try and fit it in.
The girls who were helping with the breakfasts this morning agreed to create a poem each and I was to collect them later.
Interesting day.... Knowing that the bus service to Kilkeel was not that often (after all, it doesn't necessarily need to be) I made sure I caught the 9.45am outside the local garage/shop/supplier of virtually everything. I collared Sean who happily talked to me and then created two pieces of writing.
Once in Atticall, I spent my time going into shops which weren't so busy and talking to the proprietors and/or assistants about the project. I briefly explained what I was funded for and asked them to create a poem with me supporting (but not suggesting) their ideas about reconciliation. Some of the poems were created using a question-answer process, with the latter providing a rough and ready line of a poem) whilst other pieces used an acrostic system.
Most were happy (though some a little reticent) to oblige, except for the Christian Book Shop who doubted herself too much to help. One shopkeeper was rightly pleased with her output and said she was never encouraged to write at school. The pleasure at creating the first piece encouraged her to produce a second.
poems from 22nd June - various sources
no title
realistically it’s unlikely to see a change in my day
education is the only way to move things forward
creative in the way we go about it
overall view is you’re safer in this community than ten years ago
negative point of view (that’s maybe the way i see it after thirty years
i can’t think of anything beginning with i
likely things will improve – but it will be slowly
i can’t think of anything beginning with i
a sense of humour – you’d have to have or it’s like living in beirut
travel is more likely now the bombing has stopped
i don’t know
opportunities such as international investment have been more forthcoming from overseas
nice to see things changing slowly – even if it is slow – then it’s nice to see the change
sean
reconciliation
break down barriers between two communities
a brick wall
(like the brick wall in berlin)
(it’s only the social side – the churches and education board to blame
the education system and churches
have no communication outside their own religious backgrounds
even sport in northern ireland was segregated)
bred in to them like
a category of animals
only one way of looking at things
if you landed from mars tomorrow
that’s the only way you’d see it
sean
past and present
coming together peacefully
sorting out differences
a hammer
a knife
walls
blockages
mediation
- knock the hammer against the wall
two opposing wavelengths
trying to find the middle ground
for the greater good
bury the knife
bury the blockage
under the past
(green and orange
bleak
hilly and dark
dry rot maybe)
we’re used to it
but we want a better life
for all the children
not just mine
reconciliation
peace
handshakes
putting down guns
picking up flowers
smelling of flowers
roses
red
hand them to someone
to your enemy
my enemies –
bigots
guns
bombs
stones
bottles
something rotten
use a deodoriser
fresh sea air
open spaces
mountain breezes
running water
anon
no title
rest settled
equal – all the same
caring about people – feelings
open
nicer
coming together
i welcome peace with open arms
loving
inside our minds
action to come together
the end of all tension
i – to learn all equal rights
over is the war
never to go back
sandra
they become one
smells like roses
pink
sweet
smooth and not prickly
bunch them together
they’d become one big bunch
they’d stay together
they’d become one
probably peace
sandra
no title
ready to forgive
ever lasting??
compromise
offering peace
never easy
care
it’s worth it
love
i’m sorry!
admittance
time heals
ideal situation created
own up
naïve
kathleen
reason
eating your own words
can be done
offering peace
now – sooner is better than later
consequences
if only it was easy
love
is it right?
a relief
total forgiveness
i’m sorry
only if you’re sorry
nobody cares
deborah
peace
peace
round and soft
white
light
a sweet smell like lavender
i’d throw it up in
the air
to spread it
it would not fall apart
it would scatter and spread
unhappiness
what is the opposite
of reconciliation?
doom and gloom
blackness
darkness
something unpleasant
throw it down
it would disappear
peace
what do you mean?
i’d agree with it
it’s round
white
smells like i don’t know
if it picked it up
it would just stay together
anon
no title
religion seems to be the main obstacle right?
education – be more open
culture should be shared for both communities
often friendship with your opponent
new ideas to create reconciliation
chatting to each other
ill feelings be forgotten about
love one another
invite each other to each others homes
all you can do is find a bond
totally committed to the day of reconciliation
i’d love to see this work
often in the past it hasn’t worked
no more sectarianism – we’ll have reconciliation
john
flags in kilkeel
the ulster flag
white with a red cross
and a red hand
the union jack
supporting the union with britain
the ulster scots
blue with a white or a red cross
the uvf flag
the uda flag
the urvf
the union flag – i don’t have
a problem with
the others i object to
the unionists control the businesses
so these shops don’t open on sunday
no restaurants
a flag for reconciliation
a blue flag with two
white hands shaking
white as the symbol of peace
reconciliation
try it
barbara
a homely place
reconciled
peace and harmony
kidn to your neighbours
smooth would be nice
it wouldn’t be too heavy
a pleasant smell
flowers
perfume
i’d be against the opposite
good things – chapel
catholic church
over a hundred years old
well attended
children come with parents
teenagers
the school is new
good to see new houses
being built
kathleen
no title
cross community togetherness
a sport
a ball between two
children
mixing
cut grass – a nice smell
having to play together
having to help each other
if they don’t have to
they may want to
and they have tried it
sharon
the following are all created by dave wood
a thanks to grants - Atticall
and thursday afternoon – i’m here at grants
(that sell it all – from cake to uniform)
and the smiles you get – enough to make you dance!
at grants - i tell them how the project’s born
grants sell it all – from cake to uniform
but my interest’s in what’s what and in the place
they sit me down and quiz me for some more
they find the folks that weave the finest lace
and the smiles you get – enough to make you dance!
around the back – they cake and tea me full
what’s on my lips are crumbs and many thanks
i’m waking memories out of cotton wool
at grants - i tell them how the project’s born
(grants sell it all – from cake to uniform)
the christian shop
o – i don’t know – oh no – i can’t do that –
the woman at the bible shop draws cold
at poetry and creative chitter chat
what’s gone is gone but never come up gold
the woman at the bible shop draws cold
i thought especially her would shine some light
but no – i can’t do that – her eyeballs roll
i try convincing her – and thought she might
but not at poetry and chitter chat
she won’t go there – her leap of faith stands hard
i say – it’s easy – but on her thoughts she’s sat
and will not budge the thinnest christmas card
what’s gone is gone but never come up gold
the woman at the bible shop draws cold
to flags of all persuasions
round and round the flagpole
red and white and blue
in and out the peace talks
where the tensions brew
oranges and gremlins
say the rumours that deep spin
i owe you some pain dear
The years that held fear dear
the pct
Staff at Kilkeel doctor's surgery were most helpful, but the head office would not let them host myself and the project.
the refusal (2)
we cannot help you out – we’re only space
to help the poorly sick and feed them pills
we see no use of words that may embrace
creative minds – we only see the ills
o give us ills – we’ve got the cures right here
lotions and tablets – trusses and the like
but our clients tremble up when poetics’ near
get thy imagination lost – go ride a bike
poems created retrospectively by the Wedensday night visitors to Cnocnafeola Centre
Peace and tranquility
Enjoyment
Association with responsibility
Comfort and relaxation
Excitement
Archery and balloons
Nonsense and stupidity
Driving each other mad
Relagation
Exercising the goals
Catching the cold
Orienteering
Nature watching
Cakes and tea
Intelligent debating
Laughter and raving
Identity found
Attical the home of Cahill
Teamwork in the maze
Incredible scenery
Ogre in the dinning room
No biscuits left
Brian
Porridge for breakfast
Eggs with the regional fry too
All the toast that you can chew
Coffee on tap inside and out
Evergreen scenery all about
Attractions and activities
Night and day
Deluges of conversations
Relished all the way
Evaluate life and how we evolve
Collectively we strive to
Overcome our differences
Nostalga is rife, it’s all around
Citizenship, a new way of life, we’re EU bound
Internal isolation and low self esteem are gone
Left in the activities, on the mountains of Mourne
Interaction with meaning
Attempts to change
Tranquility and serendipity overtake rage
Influences from activities
Opportunities
New
That’s what Peace and Reconciliation, if you give it a chance, can do for you.
Joe
People in a crowd
Everyone speaking out loud
Amazing exceptionally good
Curry not available only regional food.
Eager excited and anxious to go
Avalanche a flurry of snow
Narrow body slender and thin
Determined never to give in
Rainy wet and damp
Envelope to put on a stamp
Classroom where I used to learn
Oven where food you can burn
Night time when darkness falls
Children some small some tall
Ireland the land where I live
Love is something you can give
Infirm for when you are old
Artic like my life, freezing cold
Tablet in capsule form or pill
Illicit immoral no longer a weak will
Offend is to hurt or annoy
Naughty once but now a reconciling, boy.
Kevin
trip to castlewellan
Not sure what to expect
Passed lots of houses and then into the countryside
Wasn’t expecting the peace and tranquillity
The place took my breath away
Couldn’t take my eyes off the mountains
I felt very close to the mountains, like they were putting their arms around me
Do the people that live here know how lucky they are?
It was awe – inspiring.
It made me think the ancient Irish must have had the same feelings.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the ancient Irish believed that the Gods lived in the mountains,
Like the Druids believed that Gods lives in the mountains and in animals,
I could see in my mind’s eye the Druids praying to the mountains.
We were driving by in the car as they were putting a scar on the side of the mountain,
I don’t know what they were digging for but it would leave a scar on the mountain,
I would liked to have stopped them
I suppose people down there need jobs,
The world is bad enough with out people ruining the beauty.
I enjoyed the camaraderie wit those who went
The people there were very welcoming
They looked like they didn’t have a care in the world
Big red faces, hearty healthy looking people
That night I needed no medication.
Michael
'S' wasn't up to more chat when I saw him again, so boarding the bus, I chatted to the driver. It's not an every ten minutes service, so I knew I had to grab the moment when I could. He took time to explain to me that the service had taken more duties than expected (my words). Locals would be happily obliged if they needed to pop into Grants for a moment or if they needed something delivered He'd also picked up and dropped off a prescription for somebody. What was noticeable was when I asked what he thought of the reconciliation movement. The chatter dropped...but not for long.
I was due to work with a primary school but because of a mass over-running, it was cancelled. So at 12.15 I met and worked with, as arraqnged by Mairead, a U3A group. Using a simple acrostic process (and passing the papers round, like a game of consequences), the participants created poems about reconciliation. Some did not want their names attached to the works.
Regrets regard relation run
Elementary escape economy elect
Collect country
Order open
Never judge your neighbours
Common contrite courage
Indecision independence intimacy
Love lies licence
Injury inform information
Aardvarks sniffing out truth
Time waits for no one – do it now
Indecisive – no ideas
Ordinary people - new ideas
Neutrality
Relative - regret - respect
Enjoy - entertain
Courage
Openness and charity to everyone
None - nonsense - negative
Calmness - consent - conflict
Indecision
Looking outward and forward
I’m like a telescope sometimes – seeking visions
At a glance
Time to relax and meet others
Indifference – isolation
Only listen
Nature – natural – neutral
Repent
Envy
Controlling others in our midst
One-ness – others
No – never – nonsense
Community
Inclusive – interested
Lost in it all
I’m in – I’m out
All people together
Team work
Include me please
Offer a small show of friendship helps
Now it is all over
Recompense
Elevate - enrol - encircle - envelope - eclipse - every - even - elaborate
Convict – conviction – conflict – confer
Other - oar - origin – our
One - negative – nonsense
Civil colour
Nation
Loyal loving losers
Ignorance – illness
Attention – attempt
This is my list of thoughts
Integrate
Others? Everyone
Nothing to lose
Reading – reaching
Evolution entails
Corruption contain cover contour colour come
Order – older – onwards – upwards
Near – now – never
Countenance – cover call
Image
Love - lonely – let
Ideal – idol – idle – imitate
Allowed
Tension – timidity – terror
Inside – I’m quaking – outside I’m hoping
On and on we go – happy as larry
Never use a word to hurt
Remember 1690
Everybody remembers that date
Consumes common sense
Order other only odour
Neighbour – neighbourly – nearest – nothing – nearly nonsense – nowhere
Country - collect - company - crowd – crown
Inland Ireland – involve
Liveand let live
Inform – integrate – intellect
Allowance – abandon – accent and about
Time will tell
Impact
Oh what a bunch of words we represent
Need not greed
Respect
Everyone should share and share alike
Community – common – consent
Openness – orange – one sidedness
Nuisance negligible
Committed – conscience
I’m confuse –am I a nuisance?
Life is precious
It’s not an ideal world
Attitudes – good and bad
Together walk the walk
In sharing we can learn
Onslaught of peace – we hope
No one should be left out – we should go forward together
Religion is a problem we all have in common
Emotion – evidence – empathy – emu
Community – crime and conflict
Oblivious to problems
Non-possessive
Can someone explain emu/
If we meet we talk – more talk good
Like to meet with all people all of the time
Interesting possibilities for co-operation
After a fall – can we learn to grow?
Try to show friends you understand
Illustrate Christian charity
Over the moon about our progress
Nice to have this poetic circle of friends to address this issue
Regret remonstrance
Everyone together – in peace
Conversation flowing
Owning up
Never saying never – always saying will
Come meet with us
Ideas for joining in fun in groups
Limitless room for new ideas
I must be willing to hold out a hand
At all times listen to another’s point of view
Time is running short – Nov 24th?
Ideas shared
Order obstruction
No to never – action to find common ground in order to find a way to accepted peace
Rage – regret – remorse
Everyone together
Consideration
Off the rails? On the fence?
Nice to talk
Commitment ot your groups
Implausible
Loving one’s neighbours can be difficult at times
Im ust make the first move
Annihilate prejudice
Together we can make it happen
Inside – invitation to all people
Other peoples opinions matter
Nearer to peace or nothingness
Remember
Evolve
Can we talk over cake?
On your way
New ideas for the community
Catching new ideas
I must be open to them
Laughing - loving - living - sharing
Imagine all the fun we could have
Altogether caring and sharing
Time for all people – task talking
Imagine how it would feel to be ignored
On going concern and trust
Never to be discouraged
Recognise
Elephantine – big and manageable
Connecting with others across the divide on every day matters
Can we build a true community?
Individuals can make a difference
Laughter – the best medicine
Imagination and imitation
Always - assign - assist – answer
To listen to other peoples problems
Invite people into your home
Offer to listen – take time to listen
No time like the present
Reconciliation
Everybody has a role
Casual meetings
Ominous obligates obsolete
Nonsense number note night never negotiate negligent neglect none
Confer – consider – consolidate – confirm – call – cannibal – cancel – count – compliance
Ireland internet
Love lord long
Inspiration to act and interact
Act – active – aggravate
Time to turn – terror – trauma
Imaginative class!
Organisation order obligation
Networking
Recognise
Equality for all
Common humankind demands it
Only I can make a difference
Nothing left
Contain commerce catch cave collect
Initiate friendship invite
Landscape love
Inside information
Advance
Test - time – timeless
Ignorance is bliss – internet
Oh no!
No news – no ideas – negative
Relating
Equal opportunities for all
Cross border co-operation
Only a task for caring citizens
Never miss a chance towards friendship
Common sense prevails
Initiate invitations
Love thy neighbour – liberal
I want to see everyone living in harmony
Assembly
Trust
Interest – inform – intellect
Outside – oneside – otherside – over
Now we need to bring a little love to all
Restoring and chatting about any old stuff
Everyone is my friend – maybe
Conversation with neighbours and friends
On good terms with neighbours
Never stop trying
Common interests promoted
Insular ignorance an insult
Laugh
Invite friends around and have a chat
A family get together on a regular basis
Together true touch
I hope this gets a message across!!
On one island
New and fresh (unlike me!)
(the following written by Dave as a response to the above)are we like emus?
are we like emus then? does the sand count
us in or throw us out?
(regrets regard relation run)
are we collective in our thoughts?
always gathering – knitting up
(indecision independence intimacy)
do we judge or not judge – how do we strike
the balance up?
(love lies licence)
do we lay ourselves bare – throw the locks away?
(injury inform information)
where does time wait – does it tap its heels or
nod us safely on?
(time waits for no one –
common contrite courage)
and what about the nitty gritty –
the way we run our lives – what remainder then
from life’s small sums?
(elementary escape economy elect)
the new ideas wait to be unrolled – picked up
(order – open – collect – country – do it now)
beware the indecisive
(no ideas)
they could step in
how ordinary is neutrality?
i don’t know
built poems from the young people of Atticall about their community.
atticall
baa
bird (cuckoo!)
hello
play
jump tree to tree
fall
get hurt badly
grass
sore because it’s whipping off your legs
chocolate
caramel
what does attical taste like?
sick vinegary crisps
green white gold
a cross
in a tree
one hundred years ago
it would sound like a horse
vroom! bus
beep
(whole group)
party time
come on join the flock of us – today and tomorrow
off to the block we go on fun day – hoorayly hurray
merrily we roll along – roll along – yes we do it today
merrily we jog along – jog along hurriedly get the pay
until the day we die – we’ll party all our lives
next day we die – we’ll tell the whole lie again
indeed it was a fun day when everyone went to play
til the day we die – we’ll tell another lie - lie and lie
you’ll better have a very good day or you’ll pay
(small group)
the village
cnocnafeola is a place of rest
of course the centre is the best of the rest
my community is so great – it smells
many slim people find it hard to rate
under the flat roof it’s nice warm and dry
now outside it’s pouring rain from the sky
in our village there are a lot of cars
through the night there are a lot of bright stars
you can think of all the rest – beat the best
(small group)
the big hairy butterfly
crosses look like big hairy butterflies
oxes – foxes – boxes – smell like socksies
money money money – smells like honey
mummy mummy mummy smells like butter
united kingdom smells like sewage
newcastle looks like big hairy bats in rain
india is full of cowboys and guns
tv is very funny and stupid now
your poem is very nice and funny!
(small group)
created as a response to the above by Dave
meat the mountain
this is our town – an invisible cross lays flat unseen to us
our town – we do the same as others do –live and lie
and then collect our pay – but we get on like the taste
of chocolate – we’d eat the place until we’re sickly
vinegary - like chips – this is our town – our place
to climb up trees – to converse along with cuckoos
baa at sheep and fall upon the grass – fall from grace
behind our school the mountains breed tomorrows
and we roll along – roll along – like stars along the night
and merrily we jog along – like the foxes and the oxes
and the boxes of the hurriedly and the cars that drive outside
and we play and we party and we pull up school socksies
cause this is our town – you think of the rest – we’re best
our town – cnocnafeola – a place of rest – phew!
after asking someone about how they feel reconciliation is going
i edged into a table – bad step for me –
i might have danced a polka – but no use
i asked about their views – o trouble free
reconciliation’s fine – she cooed
o reconciliation’s fine
o reconciliation’s dandy
let’s move along and change to
a subject sweet like candy
i tried again – i hinted more
but not a sausage (but on barbecues)
i hope i didn’t hit a point that’s sore
does peace come at a price and bring a bruise?
o reconciliation’s fine
o reconciliation’s dandy
let’s move along and change to
a subject sweet like candy
haiku – on not talking
we’re not for chatting
o - reconciliation?
it’s going fine
A varied day... Sheila, a blogger from www.sluggerotoole.com gives me a lift into Kilkeel to sit in the library and talk with visitors and customers. After chatting with a visitor, asking the staff to be creative and interviewing a member of the serviice, I am invited to work with the last of the current children's storytelling sessions. I happily oblige.
What resulted was a highly charged metapor detailing the participants (5 - 11 year olds) study of their community.
The poem is a semi-narrative piece; the output is about direct repsonse to real and imagined. There is also a sense of story (or happening) behind it. Whatever its rhyming merits and/or meter (poetry does not have to rhyme or have tight scansion - look at haiku and/or the works of some performance poets), the starting statement was, we're going to build a poem. The children took me at my word and gave me some quick and startling images.
The poem was not a piece pondered on for days - it is elemental and basic. There was no time or chance to intellectualise on the merits or pitfalls of reconciliation - the process was a gut reaction.
The first question I asked to build the poem was 'if you could describe the way that the people of Kilkeel get along as a smell - what would it be? Then I asked what would one of these smells say to the other and what would the response be?
So really, the first bold statement was about communication. The people, reduced to the stench of their own locality (death to fish) argue about who's the most stinkiest. This could either be a statement on 'who's the most rigid in their politics or religion (fish being a symbol of some 'streams' (sorry!) of Christiantiy or it could be a direct name calling.
The last question was, if the stinks could get on, where would the best place for them be? The synbol of the fish factory is that of a great equaliser - everybody dies and everybody stinks.
It was during the session, as I asked further in order to build the rest of the piece, that the children avoided these questionings and be resolute about what they wanted to say. I had become, in essence, a messenger for them.
A comment from one of the staff went something like, You think they don't pick up on things, don't you?
fish factory in and of kilkeel
smelly – like fish
you stink
you stink too
you stink worse
it’s a good poem now
kilkeel kilkeel
everybody fights
on saturday nights
they go to the pub to get a drink
of beer and wine
when they come out –
they have a big fight
when they caught
the fish – they started to stink
who’s the stinkiest one?
(i don’t know)
the fish!
fish stinks like smells
in an ideal place
they’d get on in
kilkeel fish factory
and have stinks
and fish fights
(young people at kilkeel library story telling session)
tranquillity
peace
green fields
happy children
no chewing gum on the streets
it’s beautiful
lovely
tasty
smooth
a buzz out of eating it
disruption – disharmony
get your act together
it doesn’t’ pay us
arguing tantrums fighting
happiness and peace
completely changed
no tension in the air
nell
no title
reconcile our differences
everyone’s dream for out land
community divided
open discussion for all traditions
new ideas to be embraced
conflict must be dealt with
is there a way forward?
love and peace - i wonder
ignorance must be dispelled
activities top bond the community
trust in one another
injustice is wrong
our differences must be respected
no more deaths - no more tears
no title
roaring helicopters overhead – rotating blades – land rovers
enduring hatreds – entrenched attitudes – evangelical opposition
change – is it possible – is it coming?
orange order says maybe – can we move to celebration?
no say the other side – we’re all right – you’re not
challenges exist – courage is required
insistence on single fixed ideas – intransigence
light illuminates – shaded darkly – but remains insistent
inspiration – coming from many sources – shines to dark corners
attitude – must change – recognise commonality
trust – elemental building block – missing in action
insist on the future – insist on beginning again
obstinate about going forward – determined
never say never – stop saying no – dream of new beginnings
sheila
the poetics of truth
(combining an interview with poetic translation by dave wood)
no really and truly – one side just backs the other
they’re all in their back pockets – everyone of them
they wouldn’t be there if they hadn’t a’
got paid – and they hand the money out willy-nilly
what’s real and truth – one side keeps in with others’ hands
back pockets full – the shavings of the rich keep up the ways
both sides get paid peace rate? let results be paid like land
- spread evenly – and when they’ve grown the peace – let cattle graze
if a pensioner is mugged – what happens? don’t do it again
be a good boy – don’t do it again – they get inside – lap of luxury
no bills to pay – i’d break the law myself to get inside to be quite truthful – it’s got to that point – and most pensioners are
what happens then with pain? the struggle of the elder ones
that brutal-kicked are kicked again and witness red
slapped wrists are given out – but what’s gone
before remains an angry word seeped in – undead
i was up at stormont for the seminar for age concern
and all the politicians were sitting - orange green black white
…all agreeing – they couldn’t give a twopenny toss about the
ordinary law abiding – god fearing people
each gather then – in stormont seats of power – wave flags
the flags so representative of what they are – all equal? –
yes –their twopenny toss – equal and tossed in bags
the bag’s no room for simple god fearing all
they close the libraries – they close the hospitals – they close
everything…good god almighty – people on the falls – on
the shankill are both suffering – both sides are suffering.. do you not think?
...and they’re getting away with it all…it’s all wrong
and down one goes – and another one goes pop – and suffers
like a flattened cake of hope – one library closes like a book
one hospital – the beds go rolling down the pan – utters
death rattles to the services we need but have been sunk
and there should be projects going out…every other week
that window’s broke – i don’t know why – what – what is there
to tell?...the politicians are there to get their photos in the papers
there should be more police on the beat – really - i think
that window’s broke again –it’s not just glass – it’s principal
- the fragile shards – the remains of us splintered like a scratch
that’s rubbed against our disbelief – and look at all
those lot – for photo’s sake – and smiles that generously match
i saw one last summer – riding along on a bicycle – i think
the police station’s closed there…another thing there – take sick –
what happens? – a friend of mine – her child wasn’t well
and she had to take away to newry i think – isn’t that right?
a child could die
to all our generations – where’s the health we’ve paid up for?
where’s constancy in law? and what about the our next in line?
our list of questions – diggings round for answers – more
questions yet to come – too long a distance – too long this time
if she rings the doctor – it could be some man that
doesn’t know the area – how would he know where
ballyvally was? I would hardly know…myself...
you know it’s all wrong – the whole system…
and wrong again – and in the twisting guts of the mournes
the system’s in reverse – the paths lead us astray
the doctor’s lost – one foot wrong and another falls
where no one talk to others – that’s the clay
[on reconciliation]…the people – you know the law abiding
god fearing people are – but you’ll always get you know the
ordinary people - like I have some friends of different religions
but it suits the paramilitaries to keep – ‘this is my territory’
who owns who and where and this is mine and what’s yours
does not belong – and down below the gentle simmers
of the people keep bubbling on and on – the swaying shores
between religions at the core have all but done and settled
don’t you encroach – this is my drug area – you know
don’t encroach - they’re like dogs pissing round a lamp-post
really and truly –put it as rude as you like…’this is my area –
stay away – this is my patch – don’t enter
encroaching - dogs sniffing - pissing at a post
and proud as you like…’this area is my own – now go on home
don’t you encroach – this is my drug area – you know
stay away – this is my patch – these are your bones
you’d be lucky if you were tied to a lamp post and tarred
and feathered…you’d be lucky if you got that – they’ve
let the thing go out of control…that’s what I think… they should
have nipped that in the bud long long ago
for many years - they never noticed what was brewing from those beds
they twiddled round their thumbs and let the bindings clutch
what thoughts that seen are tarred and left unsaid
a set of feathers glued onto a bird that’s said too much
[the way forward] if you get the politicians to agree – then
but then they’ll not – it suits them to sit gutting each other
on television – then when they’re in the pub – ‘what are you havin’. -
what are you havin’ – it suits them to keep their people
each holds a knife for the goggled eyed and for the stabbing backs
behind closed doors – the handshakes moving up and down
and let me get you one – I insist – gin and tonic – rum and black
the smell of fish is for the gutting of – what’s told is underground
if the people were agreeing - they wouldn’t be happy – I don’t think
do you not? you english people must think…they’re pouring money in there
what return have you got?...And if you’re an alcoholic – you get a week of benefits
they’re throwing money into their own thing…and there’s hospitals…
what could be peace is shovelled into masks and out of mouths again
what you hear behind the backs is not the stuff from out the guts
investments fall apart – the questions brew up – leave a nasty stain
there’s only some that get the benefits and others get the cuts
they’re always there for them when there’s a photo call
stop their money until they do something – [peace rate] really and truly
- by results - you wouldn’t get paid or you wouldn’t get paid
and I would not get paid if I hadn’t got out of my bed to go to go down
to Belfast to work
who works for peace? what price we pay – but wait forever more?
Which conveyer belt does peace fall from the end of –if it will?
and let them put their hands out for their wages – then check their scores
tot up their results – is peace a little nearer – is it still a bitter pill?
[work] I was with the civil service – I worked for a firm of undertakers
for a while – I was in the civil service up in newcastle police station
until I got phone calls – they didn’t like that – I had to leave it
but truly – it’s all wrong – wrong, wrong, wrong – god help you if
you got a job there
civil finds uncivility – the wrongness of the right and the righteous
of the wrong – the phone calls opened nests that could not be bared
for what the job entailed – let peace be judge of that – let fuss
be gone – let peace and all her hopes from the past be spared
let peace and all her hopes from the past be spared
a hymn to the fish stink of kilkeel
fish fight fish fight
with all your might
slap cod slap hands
and slapil-ie
fish fight – fish might
who’s wrong? - who’s right?
fish place fish stink
all fish to fry
fish why? fish die
you’re for fish pie
you hit you jab
and then you lie
fish sigh – fish nigh
sight goes awry
go argue then
where the oil fries
and when the oil fries – you scream out loud
both stink the worst – where stink is proud
dave wood
conversation
from thirty five years ago
and early seventies
it used to be
we’d all see
the twelth july
parade
both sides upon the coin
conjoined
i’d never seen before
n my own catholic town
but now here it was
at harvest time
we’d celebrate
lunches
teas
share eatings
communal news
and celebrating us
somehow it changed
numbers dwindled
one band leader insisted on
non-provocative tunes
and when
something happened
there’d be places we wouldn’t go
scribed by dave wood
no title
can bring people together in times of need
opportunity for people to come together
meet other people from the community
must be prepared to work in a community
unity is very important
needs are always catered for
information with other groups within the community
togetherness is also an important factor
young and old come together
john
press release to promote the project afterwards
The Cnocnafeola Centre
Bog Road, Atticall
County Down, BT34 4RZ
028 4176 5859/2952
info@mournehostel.com
Date as received
Press Release
please include in the local paper and/or pass to colleagues
date as received
Innovative Creative Peace Project makes bold marks at Atticall and Kilkeel.
A scheme invented by Dave Wood and hosted by The Cnocnafeola Residential and Activity Centre, Atticall, Kilkeel, is already yielding creative and positive results.
The collaboration of Dave Wood (community arts worker from Nottingham) and Mairead White MBE and the local community, recently received financial support from the Community Relations Council for this innovative approach.
It is a scheme designed specifically to help communities deal with the conflict and the process of reconciliation and to encourage people to take opportuinities arising from the peace process. These ideas were much to the fore at the conference for Diversity and Peace Building recently held in Newry.
Dave, who has no political or religious affiliations, says, Creativity is a great building block for the healing process. It enables an ease of discussion; participants feeling able to express themselves about thorny subjects through the more abstract and metaphoric image...creating poems as groups can also initiate fertilisation of cross cultural activity.
Since arrival in Atticall, Dave has been very busy working with a variety of groups from all backgrounds and ages. He has helped people in Kilkeel and Atticall to create poems, he's sat in shops and interviewed them, worked with local youth, a U3A group and chatted with visitors in Kilkeel Library. He also popped in for a barbecue with Mourne Stiimulus. Oh, then there was the conversation with the bus driver…
Mairead says As far as we know, this is the first project of its kind. The response has been great and we’re certain that dialogue is the key to developing our peace process and healing any divisions which exist.
The results of the process will be displayed in the Cnocnafeola Centre when Dave returns in September. See you all there.
Anyone interested in the project should email Dave Wood; davewrite2002@yahoo.com.
ends
press contact
Mairead White
The Cnocnafeola Centre
Bog Road, Atticall
County Down, BT34 4RZ
info@mournehostel.com
23rd June 2006 poems from the young people of Atticall about their community.
atticall
baa
bird (cuckoo!)
hello
play
jump tree to tree
fall
get hurt badly
grass
sore because it’s whipping off your legs
chocolate
caramel
what does attical taste like?
sick vinegary crisps
green white gold
a cross
in a tree
one hundred years ago
it would sound like a horse
vroom! bus
beep
(whole group)
party time
come on join the flock of us – today and tomorrow
off to the block we go on fun day – hoorayly hurray
merrily we roll along – roll along – yes we do it today
merrily we jog along – jog along hurriedly get the pay
until the day we die – we’ll party all our lives
next day we die – we’ll tell the whole lie again
indeed it was a fun day when everyone went to play
til the day we die – we’ll tell another lie - lie and lie
you’ll better have a very good day or you’ll pay
(small group)
the village
cnocnafeola is a place of rest
of course the centre is the best of the rest
my community is so great – it smells
many slim people find it hard to rate
under the flat roof it’s nice warm and dry
now outside it’s pouring rain from the sky
in our village there are a lot of cars
through the night there are a lot of bright stars
you can think of all the rest – beat the best
(small group)
the big hairy butterfly
crosses look like big hairy butterflies
oxes – foxes – boxes – smell like socksies
money money money – smells like honey
mummy mummy mummy smells like butter
united kingdom smells like sewage
newcastle looks like big hairy bats in rain
india is full of cowboys and guns
tv is very funny and stupid now
your poem is very nice and funny!
(small group)
created as a response to the above by Dave
meat the mountain
this is our town – an invisible cross lays flat unseen to us
our town – we do the same as others do –live and lie
and then collect our pay – but we get on like the taste
of chocolate – we’d eat the place until we’re sickly
vinegary - like chips – this is our town – our place
to climb up trees – to converse along with cuckoos
baa at sheep and fall upon the grass – fall from grace
behind our school the mountains breed tomorrows
and we roll along – roll along – like stars along the night
and merrily we jog along – like the foxes and the oxes
and the boxes of the hurriedly and the cars that drive outside
and we play and we party and we pull up school socksies
cause this is our town – you think of the rest – we’re best
our town – cnocnafeola – a place of rest – phew!
haiku – on not talking
we’re not for chatting
o - reconciliation?
it’s going fine
after asking someone about how they feel reconciliation is going
i edged into a table – bad step for me –
i might have danced a polka – but no use
i asked about their views – o trouble free
reconciliation’s fine – she cooed
o reconciliation’s fine
o reconciliation’s dandy
let’s move along and change to
a subject sweet like candy
i tried again – i hinted more
but not a sausage (but on barbecues)
i hope i didn’t hit a point that’s sore
does peace come at a price and bring a bruise?
o reconciliation’s fine
o reconciliation’s dandy
let’s move along and change to
a subject sweet like candy
haiku – on not talking
we’re not for chatting
o - reconciliation?
it’s going fine
after asking someone about how they feel reconciliation is going
i edged into a table – bad step for me –
i might have danced a polka – but no use
i asked about their views – o trouble free
reconciliation’s fine – she cooed
o reconciliation’s fine
o reconciliation’s dandy
let’s move along and change
a subject sweet like candy
i tried again – i hinted more
but not a sausage (but on barbecues)
i hope i didn’t hit a point that’s sore
does peace come at a price and bring a bruise?
o reconciliation’s fine
o reconciliation’s dandy
let’s move along and change
a subject sweet like candy
