PURPLE POETS - an on-going project
start date: summer 2009 CAMDEN POSTCARD POEMS:
(archiving still in progress)
...........................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................... CAMDEN HEROES poems written for Camden Heroes
2009 National Poetry Day Celebrations
Camden Town Hall
(PLEASE NOTE: this 'instant anthology' is an on-going project; More Camden Heroes to inspire your poems
please note: if you took part in the 2009 reading
and would like your poems on the web-page,
or would like to send us a postcard poem,
please contact poets AT purplepoets.com
and give us permission to quote your poem on this
webpage.
POEM FOR
OPHELIA
(JOHN EVERETT MILLAIS
PAINTING OF LIZZIE SIDDAL) a youtube film project by artist Jo WOnder
presented at Camden Town Hall
(including poems by Purple Poets in the film)
I was refused.
I was refused.
I was refused.
I was refused.
And then
I was the first woman
to become a doctor in Britain.
I was born on the 9th of June 1836.
I qualified in 1865,
attained my MD from Paris
Five years later.
I married James Anderson
the next year.
We had two children, Alan and Louisa
And I carried on working.
I opened the First Hospital for Women
And a Medical School for Women
I opened doors.
There is a statue to me in a Camden Park
But don't look for me there.
Look across the Euston Road,
up from the British Library
And see My Hospital. Mine.
The Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital.
I feel quite happy.
ROGER
BANNISTER
A National Hero:
Roger Bannister (by Patsy Futatsug
Every child
of my generation
remembers Roger Bannister
Breaking the four minute mile.
I can see him doing it.
Close your eyes.
So can you.
A National Hero.
Now picture a stethoscope.
An every day hero.
A neurologist at the National
Dr. Bannister, Queen's Square.
Helping us all
In our race for life.
'Roger Bannister' was written for
The National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery's
150th Anniversary and first performed by Patsy
with the Purple Poets at 'The Fayre on the Square'
The National Hospital's Benefit
on June 26, 2010
His Words Live On (by Hilldrop Workshop member Joan Hewitt)
07.10.2009
..............
A much-loved figure of fogeyish stature,
Who spoke of ordinary, mundane things,
His words were flowing and understandable,
Known to everyone, from beggars to Kings.
A much -loved figure - famous son of Camden,
Though Poet Laureate, he was yet despised
By those whose poems were sometimes meaningless,
Their words were empty - but his are dearly prized.
Now he stands, so lively and life-like
At St. Pancras, saved partly by his vigour.
He'll not be forgotten, his words will live on,
You'll always be there, Sir John, a Much-Loved figure.
"I took some tablets in Islington" (by Richard Niman)
07.10.2009
"I took some tablets in Islington,
But found they were really paving stones.
It was hard getting them through the revolving doors.
Such heroicism counts for little in Camden."
I took a bus today where I was going.
I was let off near a post-office where
I got my pension. The staff knew me there
And smiled at me. After such to-ing and fro-ing
How nice to stop in at a library
And read in silence. The librarian
Led me to what I wanted: a good man,
He left me to my book at liberty.
Thence homewards past a shop where I brought bread,
Paid, got my change, and go another smile.
Well, call me lucky: some days everything
Goes haywire. Not today, though. No, instead
I stopped, I thought, I pondered for a while
On Camden's unsung heroes I now sing.
POEM FOR
CAMDEN HEROES
Camden Nigerian Carers by Marjorie Pallitt
September 2009
........
Supposed to be early, to come before 8.
Usually the bus or the train is late.
Sun baked or freezing they always arrive
Making sure I am still alive.
Looking at me with smiling black face
I feel more than just another case
They tend personal needs with dignity
Taking the place of my family.
They left Nigeria's brilliant sun
Unsung heroes every one.
POEM FOR
CHARLES DICKENS
Great Camden Characters:
Charles Dickens by Joan Hewitt
07.10.2009
...........
Dickens, famed for many things, Novelist Extraordinaire.
Living in Doughty and Bayham Streets in Camden so fair.
His novels were enthralling, his characters had flair.
Micawber, Uriah Heep, Tiny Tim and Little Nell,
His books changed people's destinies in many ways, they tell,
Chimney sweeps, factory kids, waifs and strays whose lives were hell.
Now we have Great Expectations and ask for more, as well.
If you were a book,
you would be a book of memories;
touching the untouchables.
If you were a song,
you would be sung in Bangla;
by your lovely daughter-in-law.
But you are a politician!
You bring hope and joy, us to all;
I salute you my hero!
MY HERO : FATHER ALAN
FUDGE dedicated to Father Alan Fudge
of St. Charles Borromeo Church
who changed my life
by Eppie Caredda
19.09.2009
Here in my parish church
Lives a priest in charge.
A man of vision and light
Who works all day
And often through the night.
A man giving souls in need.
He leads us to loving
And forgiving.
A man whose God is real
Who gives us life
To guide and heal.
A man of courage and strength.
A man who comforts us
In our fears and failures.
A man who holds within his hands
The bread of life.
read to the Mayor of Camden at
Camden Town Hall, Postcard Poems
National Poetry Day Celebration 2009
Heroine:
Róisín Gadelrab - CNJ campaigning jounalist by Fiona Green
.....
You catch the mood:
strong, slow, determined;
then commit to paper
taking the message forward.
You catch the sense:
strong, slow, determined;
echoing the anger
taking the message forward.
You catch the power:
taking the message forward.
POEMS FOR
ROSE HACKER:
[draft 7 / August 19, 2009] SUDEEP SEN
Remembering Rose Hacker for Kim & Paul
Nehru Centre in Mayfair -
Georgian splendour blooms. Rose
planted on row one, cheeks fair,
s[i]mile-flushed: "Imagine Rose
dancing / white lace at her throat".
I recall joyous phrases -
obituary-tucked - float.
Pain, for now at least, eases.
Imagine Rose Dancing: Rose Hacker's Dance Performance in Bloomsbury
February 24, 2007 by Kim Morrissey
Imagine Rose dancing
white lace at her throat
dark dress falling shoulders
to floor
the lights catching stage dust
the slow curve of thin wrists
suspended
Rose dancing,
still turning heads
each breath that she takes
lemon-sweet
imagine Rose dancing
to one-hundred-and-one
imagine Rose dancing
and dance!
Hear the poem.
recorded 09.07.2008
at the Saison Poetry Library.
(read by the poet at the southbankcentre)
First published in ATLAS 02
First read at the London launch
Nehru Centre, 14.07.2007
with Rose as an invited guest
http://www.poetrymagazines.org.uk/magazine/issue.asp?id=642
This card is sent full of love, big hugs and kisses too
Eternal thanks and gratitude for everything you do.
Like the little cards you send me and listening to my woes,
They brighten even the darkest days and help me beat my lows.
I hope your birthday is full of joy and blessed with lots of fun
And may all your prayers be answered in the days to come.
You're always 39 and holding an age now less than mine
But we both know it's 39 and holding, plus another 29.
To treat yourself may I suggest something you might do
Instead of having one magnum, be a devil, Mum, have two
I'm lucky to have you in my life, I'm proud to be your son
And nothing makes me prouder than being able to call you
every mother is a hero to her child
and every child thinks their mother is the best.
every time a mother offers love and care
a child sleeps
such a happiness you cannot compare
it is like paradise
for mother and child.
every mother is a hero in the world
defending her child
no one could love more
than a mother
and no arms are safer
for a child.
A
NATIONAL TREASURE for Dr Paul Nandi
by Bithi Das
I know a doctor.
You all know him.
He is a God
Because he was born
On Christmas Day.
Also, he is a Hindu God - Nandi.
Nandi is the bull
that God Shiva rides on
Always happy to serve.
Paul is kind, loving
Always there to help others.
Heal their pain.
Because he never forgets
He is not just a God
He is a doctor.
Jo WOnder: Six Days
of Ophelia
Day Four with poems first shown at the Purple Poets' Camden
Heroes
National Poetry Day Celebration
Camden Town Hall
October 8th 2009
Thank you again, to the TADS, all the Purple Poets,
past and present, our guest poets
Elain Feinstein and Alan Brownjohn, special guest Katja Schmidt,
heroes: Bernard Miller, William Radice, Richard Price,
artists Colin Shelbourn, Jo WOnder, and Heather Spears
(for her wonderful drawings of Camden writers) Third Age Project Director
Tony Bloor for his support, The Mayor (Councillor Ansari), The Mayor's
office and staff,
Golden Gazette editor Rosemary Howes
and everyone who came to read, and to listen,
and to take tea with the Mayor of Camden, Councillor Ansari
in in our beautiful Town Hall.
PURPLE POETS - on-going 2010 project:
Purple
Poets
and Friends
and Peace
THE QUAKER CENTRE
LIBRARY
Friends Meeting House,
173 Euston Road
Bloomsbury
London NW1 2BJ
Tel: 020 7663 1030
quakercentre@quaker.org.uk
Most of the poets will be reading their own found
poems taken from the Peace collections in Friends House Library. This
is an on-going project, and this is the first of several workshops and
readings.
Our special guest artist Jo WOnder will present
her own 'found poetry' Peace collage to the Quaker Centre Library inspired
by Quaker texts selected by Kim Morrissey.
gifts to celebrate the project: Jo WOnder created a 'found poem' paper
collage for the reading,
which was donated to the Quaker Library in celebration of the event,
using words from the pamphlet 'TO ALL WOMEN' (WAR Box 1, pamphlet 5)
published in 1917, for Quaker Women.
The Purple Poets (and others taking part) will be donating the dvd of the
reading
and the text of the poems-in-progress to the Library,
and the Purple Poets also presented David Irwin, librarian, Katya Schmidt's
rough translation and correction to the original German Text
in the 'TO ALL WOMEN' pamphlet
Kim Morrissey and the Purple Poets presented the Library with a book for
their collection:
Letters from the Boer War: Emily Hobhouse: Boer War letters
edited by Rykie Van Reenen
This edition was published by Human & Rousseau
Cape Town and Pretoria 1984
SOURCES FOR THE FOUND POETRY PROJECT
FROM THE QUAKER CENTRE LIBRARY
EUSTON ROAD
Quaker Library Librarian: David Irwin
project initiator: Beverley Kemp
HISTORY: In a writing workshop held for the Purple Poets on January
21, 2010, at the Quaker Centre, Euston Road, poet Kim Morrissey explained
the Found Poetry technique, and librarians Beverley Kemp and David
Irwin provided background information about the Quaker Library, History and
Quaker Testimonies of Peace. Beverley and David acted as resource people
for the project, enabling the Purple Poets to put the material into
context.
A second workshop was held by Kim with writers on February 9, 2010 at the
British Museum Café. A third workshop, for invited guest poets,
attended by Miriam Halahmy and artist Jo WOnder, was held by David and
Kim on March 29, 2010. For those poets not familiar with the technique, further
one-to-one workshops will be held (in person and by internet) leading up
to the event, and Quaker poets will be invited to write their own 'Testimonies
of Peace' for the reading. The Third Age Project's drama group TAD
began workshopping some of the found poems, in a sequence called 'Troublesome
People' under the direction of Gary Kielty.
The first Reading of the Project,
reading poems-in-progress, was held at the Quaker Centre
April 22, 2010 at 2:30 p.m.
"We Do Not Close Our Eyes"
from THE BOY, THE BAYONET, AND THE BIBLE
B. McCall Barbour
PAMPHLET
BOX 242/2
pages 2-17
OTHER PURPLE POETS' PROJECTS:
ACCESSING THE ARTS
A list of suitable venues and unsuitable venues
for performing (DDA compliant or reasonable adjustments noted)
and for holding meetings (this is an on-going project)
FIRST FIELD TRIP AND ON-GOING
PROJECT (05.10.2006)
1930's Stained Glass Windows by Margaret Edith Aldrich Rope, (M.E.A.
Rope)
The Crypt, Munster Square
first visit by photographer Tatiana Schenck (09.05.2009)
these windows were commissioned for St. Augustine's (Hackney)
PURPLE POETS:
Babushka, Bithi Das, Carol Moon, Eileen Francis, Eppie Caredda, Ferdous Rahman,
Serajul Islam Molla, Jean Watt, Kathy Randle, Nahar Islam, Norah Platt, Patsy
Futatsugi, Shelagh Beale.
OUR PURPLE POETS WEBSITE
IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY
OF FOUNDING PURPLE POET KATHY RANDLE
AND ROSE HACKER
Workshops and Workshoping
The Four Core Values.
1. We treat people as assets.
We support the positive actions people can
and want to do for their community.
2. We are re-defining work
Regardless of the task,
everyone's time is valued equally
we value whatever it takes to make
neighbourhoods safe and vibrant.
3.We reciprocate.
We require that everyone gives something back
ensuring all in our society have the opportunity
to be involved in their community.
4. We support the development of social networks.
These require ongoing investments of social capital
generated by trust, reciprocity and civic engagement.
CAMDEN HEROES
Postcard Poems written for Camden Heroes
2009 National Poetry Day Celebrations
Camden Town Hall
(PLEASE NOTE: this 'instant anthology' is an on-going project; A list of Camden Heroes to inspire your poems
For permission to use any of this material
please contact the Purple Poets
(poem AT purplepoets.com)
The Purple Poets have co-produced projects
with the Quaker Library
and the Wellcome Trust.
and The Royal College of Physicians The Bloomsbury Workshop
'ThePurples' create community projects promoting the 5 P's:
People, Poetry, Plants, Purple and Picnics
(our major project is Camden National Poetry
Day)
We also are keen on International Women's Day,
Local Summer Festivals and Green Fairs,
Disability Access, Friends of the Park, Tenants' Rights
Constitutions, and anything else our members find interesting
think purple! think poets!
Bloomsbury
The Purple Poets
for readings, projects and festivals contact Ferdous Rahman
rahmanferdous AT hotmail.co.uk
mailing address: The Purple Poets
c/o Flat 18 Chenies Street Chambers
Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7ET
Twitter @PurplePoets.com
