Purple Poets
Camden Green Fair Readings
Sunday, 6 June 2010
Camden Green Fair and Bikefest,
Regent's Park
13:30hrs
at the fashion tent stage
THE PURPLE POETS:
Turning Green!
Iris 2 artist: Fiona Green
BABUSHKA
OUR TIME BANK COMMUNITY
written 2006
Which culture is friendship?
What colour is laughter?
We're one family
And we learn from each other.
BABUSHKA
EARLY MEMORIES
written 22.03.2007
One foot in heaven,
And one foot on the Earth,
That's how it always seemed to me
Since my birth
In grimy North London many years ago.
What a dismal place that was,
Row upon row of sooty, terraced houses.
What was I doing there?
There must be some dreadful mistake.
I had the loveliest mother
But so much was lacking -
No books, no real conversation,
No music, culture or art.
No beauty except her gentle nature.
No men in our street - they were away at the War.
No children - they were all in the country.
No one to play with, just old
Follk and young Mums and babies.
Jimmy James was my salvation,
My brother, father, play-mate, friend.
He had a white star in the middle of his back
This most beautiful cat
And I adored him.
One day my world expanded,
It must have been soon after the War.
I was taken to a big country house
With huge gardens.
Lawns, and flowers, and beauty.
Children of all ages were dancing
To music, live music.
I joined in, and we danced
Until the sun went down.
It was heaven.
BITHI DAS
MY GARDEN
first draft 03.06.2010
If you say:
I am too sick
To do my daily duty
I must say:
I will give up everything
But I won't neglect my garden.
My Garden needs me.
All the flowers are blooming
In multi-colours
Attracting wild insects.
Honey bees, bumble bees
Taking nectar from my flowers
And going away to make honey
In their home.
It is spring and I am proud to see
So many wild things living in my garden.
My Garden is a Garden of Eden
Everything Grows There.
Even me.
BITHI DAS
REBIRTH
21.09.2006
If I die this winter
My body will die but I shall be alive
and come back to your garden.
You will see the white snow-drops,
the first blossoms in spring
after the harsh snows in the winter.
The snow will melt
but the snow drops
will be everywhere.
As the spring brings new life and hope
you will hope that the garden
will be alive again.
But you won't know I am there
and it is me who has born again.
The bird will sing and I will dance.
You will smell the fragrance of mine.
But you won't know.
I am there.
I am born again in this beautiful world.
EPPIE CAREDDA
Let's Work Together to Fight the Drought
written 2006
Summertime is here again
The mighty sun starts shining
Over me and London Town
Oh, what a lovely feeling -
I love the sudden change
From wind and rain to sunny days
But this time we have to watch out
To prevent the drought.
Let us tighten our taps all around
The house and in our gardens
Love plants, but choose them well
Knowing that everything
needs water for life
So Let's Work Together
To fight the Drought.
FERDOUS RAHMAN
GREEN FINGERS
first draft 16.05.2010
second draft 03.06.2010
My husband wanted
To be useful in the garden
I said OK,
Why don't you weed?
He weeded the garden
Removed all the flowering plants;
Keeping all the weeds.
I was upset.
But I said Why don't you plant
Onions and marigold seeds?
Weeks passed, no sign of shoots.
Everything was planted upside down.
I will buy you more plants, he said
Don't worry! Which made me angry.
Plants take time to grow
Then the winter will follow.
Even though it was late
I showed him how to grow pumpkins.
He became the best
Pumpkin grower in the borough.
His Pumpkins died too soon.
He moved on to trees.
Now all round the garden
We have his pear trees, his apple trees,
Grapes and crabapples
Cherries and more ....
All his trees remain.
He disappeared.
FERDOUS RAHMAN
THE COLOUR OF BLOOD
written 27.05.2010
second draft: 03.06.2010
FERDOUS RAHMAN
The Colour of Blood
first draft: 13.05.2010
The Colour of blood is red
for the whole human race.
The colour of skin may vary
when exposed to the sun.
Wars are fought over Borders,
Religions and Cultures
But every child’s cry is the same.
No need to translate.
The colour of Blood
Remains.
ISLAM MOLLA
THE CREATOR WILL NOT BE THERE
BUT THE CREATION WILL BE FOREVER!
(a translation for children, from Tagore)
first draft 03.06.2010
When the sign of any footprint
Won't be on the bank of the River
Don't try to find me there.
You look upon the Sky at the Stars
I will be there in between them.
If you look at the Storm
In your eyes it destroys everything.
I will be there in the form of destruction.
You will not see me,
But I will be there
As the Stars
Twinking from above the sky
And watching upon you.
JEAN WATT
BLESSED
written 06.12.2007
This morning, early, before sunrise
God blessed me with a beautiful surprise.
A song-thrush sang its glorious song
Not once, but thrice on my windowsill.
Then I could hear its song in flight
As it winged its way, to give others delight.
JEAN WATT
MESS
first draft May 2006
I came along a public walkway today, and the cleaner was sweeping up rubbish
which so easily could have been put in a waste bin by those who do not care.
He said to me look at this, which was dog waste and plastic bottles,
and I agreed it was a mess.
Life on earth is getting worse unless
We can make a stand
For life awareness all around
PATSY FUTATSUGI
PICTURE POSTCARD PERFECT
2006
Years ago in Morroco
I saw women
Drawing water from the well
It looked wonderful
To see young girls
Old women, children
Dressed in their beautiful clothes
Gracefully carrying water
On their heads every day
This year we have a drought
And a hose pipe ban and
I am the one carrying water
My arms ache with the load
It isn't so
picture perfect.
PATSY FUTATSUGI
End of Spring Season (a haiku)
08.02.2007
pink blossom petal
falling down into the ground
end of spring season
PATSY FUTATSUGI
After The War
22.07.2006
My mother worked in a sweet shop
And every Friday she brought me
My special treat. Fuller's Chocolates .
Round with bits of purple and red
Square nougat, sugared almonds
Walnuts covered in Dark and Milk
Chocolate. They were just there
Every Friday when she was paid.
One Friday my mother forgot
I remember screaming
Kicking and crying
"Where's my bloody chocolates"
And being put to bed without supper.
The next Friday she came home
With more glossy, shiny,
Gooey chocolates.
Glossy, shiny, creamy,
Milky, syrupy-sweet
Smearing on the hands and face
Of a five year old
Melting in my mouth.
The Jubilee Garden
At Chenies Street Chambers
for Marek Wilusynski
Holborn District Housing Manager 2003 -2006
responsible for Chenies Street Chambers
In our Garden at Chenies Street Chambers
it has taken four years
but with Marek's permission
the birds have returned
after fifty odd years of Camden Council
spraying poison two times a year
in what they called a Courtyard
and we now call a Garden
sometimes the choice of a word
changes your world
Once Marek chose the word yes,
we asked, and Marek agreed
we could choose to say No
to weed-killers, chemicals, pesticides, spraying,
We chose No.
In our Garden at Chenies street Chambers
We planted rosemary, lavender, coriander,
grapes, hops, cape gooseberries, elders,
roses, honeysuckle, and jasmine. We built planters,
wormeries, the children's playground, the frogpond,
but first we planted a sign:
The Name of Our Garden is Organic .
Remember our garden.
The seeds we choose to grow.
Sometimes the choice of a word
can change lives.
Sometimes the choice of a word
changes everything.
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HISTORY
2009 CAMDEN GREEN FAIR CANCELLED BY CAMDEN COUNCIL
2008
THE PURPLE POETS READING
AT THE CAMDEN GREEN FAIR
(reading with guest poet Sudeep Sen)
video, West Euston Time Bank Purple Poet archives. Poets taking part:
Bithi Das, Patsy Futatsugi, Nahar Islam, Islam Molla, Carol Moon, Ferdous
Rahman with Kim Morrissey and Sudeep Sen 'How to read a Poem'
reading and translation workshop in Regents' Park
BLESSED
Jean Watt
written 06.12.2007
This morning, early, before sunrise
God blessed me with a beautiful surprise.
A song-thrush sang its glorious song
Not once, but thrice on my windowsill.
Then I could hear its song in flight
As it winged its way, to give others delight.
2007
THE PURPLE POETS READING
AT THE CAMDEN GREEN FAIR
Sunday June 3d 2007
Camden Green Fair and Bikefest 2007
Regent's Park, London
The Jiggery Pokery Tent
Regent's Park
performance workshop video,
West Euston Time Bank Purple Poets archive. Purple Poets
Eppie Carreda, Carol Moon,
and Kathy Randle reading their own poems to Third
Age Project members and West Euston Time Bank members, beside the West
Euston Time Bank stall.
FERDOUS RAHMAN
GREEN WORLD
first draft 27.05.2007
Convert all the fields
A soothing Green Shield
Our slogan should be.
Produce oxygen from debris
Plant more and more trees
Create a wonderful world
A green planet to live.
FERDOUS RAHMAN
GLOBAL WARNING
first draft: 27.05.2007
What is happening
Does anyone know?
Are we going to wrap
In a green house?
Some say ice caps are melting
Some blame it on Global Warming.
Mother Nature knows best
Which one to protect
And which one to waste
The rule is the survival
For the fittest.
Emitting carbon dioxide
Blocking the Sun
All alarming news
We become stunned
How are we going to survive?
How are we going to thrive?
The nature provides
More than we deserve
Chlorophyll and stress
We should increase
Use less more we conserve.
Ferdous Rahman first performed this poem
with the Purple Poets at the Camden Green Fair
and Bikefest in Regent's Park, June 3d 2007
TALE OF JOY
Written in Bengali and
translated into English
by Bithi Das
18.05.3007
[BENGALI]
I called them Joy and Jemima.
A wood-pigeon couple.
From last year June
I see them in my garden
In the morning
Every day on my wooden fence
At the back of my garden
No exception.
[BENGALI]
There are lots of big trees
Like oak and maple
In the back of my garden
It came in my mind,
They must be living
In one of the big trees.
Every early morning
They come down on my fence
To bask in the sun,
Staring at each other quietly
After ten, they go away together,
Don't know where,
Must be in search for food.
[BENGAL]
One day I woke up and saw it was raining
But Joy and Jemima - they are there.
Jemima spread her wing
To take rain water in her body
She wanted to take a bath.
Joy quietly started to come nearer to her
But Jemima was so angry. She fluffed her body
Looked at Joy, full of anger.
Joy went back to his place quietly again.
I was surprised to see the love and despair
Even in these birds.
[BENGALI]
I went away to Kolkata for a few weeks
When I came back, I saw Joy,
But no sign of Jemima
I waited a few days but Joy was alone,
He still sits on my fence every day.
Again I had to go away for my travelling
And this time a bit longer.
When I came back I was so eager to see Joy
But nowhere is Joy.
[BENGALI]
The grass has overgrown in my absence.
I have to cut the grass.
When I came to the garden
I saw underneath my fence
Lots of bird feathers
Scattered around.
My God - it was my Joy's feathers.
Cat has killed Joy.
I gathered all the feathers
I buried them underneath the big tree.
I had no strength to cut the grass.
Went back indoors to take shelter
In my pillow.
Bithi Das first performed this poem
with the Purple Poets at the
2007 Camden Green Fair.
2006
THE PURPLE POETS READING
AT THE CAMDEN GREEN FAIR
Sunday June 4d 2006
Camden Green Fair and Bikefest
ARCHIVES:
Camden Green Fair
Purple Poets Poems
Regent's Park 2006
WEST EUSTON TIME BANK PURPLE POETS
PERFORMANCE AT THE VILLAGE GREEN
REGENT'S PARK CAMDEN GREEN FAIR
KATHY READS:
A Day At the Seaside (Age Six)
Splashing about in the sea
Oh what fun for me
Never wanting to leave
Though my costume did cleave
To my sunburnt back
The costume was cut away
I never knew then how much I would pay
For my day at the sea
Now with a back full of freckles
Except for the white cross of the strap
of a seventy year old scar
of a six year old's
costume
No more carefree
Splashing in the sea for me!
PATSY READS:
Postcard Perfect
Years ago in Morroco
I saw women
Drawing water from the well
It looked wonderful
To see young girls
Old women, children
Dressed in their beautiful clothes
Gracefully carrying water
On their heads every day
This year we have a drought
And a hose pipe ban and
I am the one carrying water
My arms ache with the load
It isn't so
picture perfect.
JEAN READS:
I came along a public walkway today, and the cleaner was sweeping up rubbish
which so easily could have been put in a waste bin by those who do not care.
He said to me look at this, which was dog waste and plastic bottles,
and I agreed it was a mess.
Life on earth is getting worse unless
We can make a stand
For life awareness all around
BITHI READS:
FROM MY WINDOW
From my window I see my Garden, it needs tidy up
I like to be in my garden because it needs me.
In my Garden, I see a robin who sings non-stop
To cheer me up
KIM READS:
Birds Versus Bush, 2006
for Marek Wilusynski
Holborn District Housing Manager
responsible for Chenies Street Chambers
in our Garden
at Chenies Street Chambers
it has taken four years
but with Marek's permission
the birds have returned
after fifty odd years of Camden Council
spraying poison two times a year
in what they called a Courtyard
and we now call a Garden
Marek told his staff yes,
we could have a garden
& RE: annual spraying,
pesticides, etc.
we could say 'No.'
sometimes the choice of a word
changes your world
we planted grapes, hops, strawberries,
rosemary, lavender, coriander,
jasmine, willow trees, built planters
a wormery, a playground, a frogpond,
but first we planted a sign:
The name of our Garden is Organic .
in our Garden, life is good
but in Washington
Tony Brown and Gordon Blair
still flutter round Bush
finding more permanent ways
to move lives on
remember our garden
and the seeds we choose to grow
sometimes the choice of a word
can change lives
the choice of a world
changes everything
EPPIE READS:
Let's Work Together to Fight the Drought
Summertime is here again
The mighty sun starts shining
Over me and London Town
Oh, what a lovely feeling -
I love the sudden change
From wind and rain to sunny days
But this time we have to watch out
To prevent the drought.
Let us tighten our taps all around
The house and in our gardens
Love plants, but choose them well
Knowing that everything
needs water for life
So Let's Work Together
To fight the Drought.
BRENDA READS:
Yesterday in Marks & Spencer
I could not find unpackaged food
Just out of hospital at the National
where food is looked at forlornly
by six patients in a ward, unable to eat
we are sickened as tray after tray
Is brought and then swished away
In the "interests of health and hygiene"
they do not recycle, re-use
or even reduce
the amount of mashed potato
plopped limply on each plate.
Yesterday, down the street
from Marks and Spencer
a man in the street twirled round
on his blankets until he could lie
just right on the pavement beneath
the cash point machine. Close to him, a young woman
rigid on the bus stop bench
a bright parcel on her lap, chooses crisps delicately
from a plastic package.
THE WORD FOR WATER:
THE PURPLE POETS'
CO-OPERATIVE POEM
NISHA'S POEM:
Water I drink
Water I bathe
Water I wash
From cradle to grave
Water I save
Water I waste not
Without water we
Cannot survive.
JEAN READS:
Water Leaks.
Life Blood
Running away.
EPPIE READS:
Everyone
And everything
Needs water for life
Let's Work Together
To fight the Drought.
KATHY READS:
I always shower
Never bathe
Oh what a 'green'
Way to behave!
PATSY READS:
I hear the Fleet
River flowing by
I see so few birds
Flying so high
Global Warming
Global Warning
Why?
ISLAM READS:
Words for Water
by Islam Molla
04.06.2006
Some Words for Water:
Jawl
Bari
Aab
Shalil
Jharna
Paani
Neerr
These are all words for water
But we must always remember
The word for Water
Is Life
Poetry Workshop
Purple Poets For This Reading:
Eppie Caredda
Bithi Das
Patsy Futatsugi
Nisha Mansoor (guest)
Serajul Islam Molla
Kathy Randle
Jean Watt
Poetry Editor:
Kim Morrissey
Guest Poet:
Brenda Niskala
(Canada)
This is an educational site.
© resides with the author. All rights reserved.
West Euston Purple Poets
Writer-in-Residence
Kim Morrissey.
For permission to use any of this material
please contact the West Euston Time
Bank.
CONTACT ADDRESSES
West Euston Time Bank
www.westeustontimebank.org.uk
info@westeustontimebank.org.uk
For more information about any of our projects
phone Tony Bloor: +44-(0)20 7383 4922
West Euston Third Age
Project
http://www.thirdageproject.org.uk/
info@thirdageproject.org.uk
Crypt Centre
Munster Square
West Euston
London NW1 3PL
0207 383 4922
H-Pod events
Cumberland Market
0207 387 4382
Our Workshop Facilitators:
Tony Bloor, Nurjahan Urmi, Josie Nakos
Our Time Bank Broker:
(as of August 2009, on maternity leave)
Shahanara Begum
Our Writer-in-Residence
Kim Morrissey
The Purple Poets meet
almost every Thursday at the Crypt
between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
(phone to confirm there is a session)
(0)20 7383 4922
The West Euston Time Bank Purple Poets Poetry Workshop
was founded in 2005 and supported by, amongst others,
The Arts Council,The Carnegie Trust,
The Third Age Project, and the new economics foundation.
WETB is affiliated with Time Banking UK (Stroud). |
