A call to creativity, especially now.

I’m helping my son study for his mock-mock GCSEs which he’ll start to take in November. In his English Literature poetry module he is studying ‘power and conflict’.

In a time where I can’t put into words what I’m feeling or thinking about current events, I’m finding solace in other people’s words and thoughts.

Carol Ann Duffy’s poem War Photographer aptly captures a sense of what I feel but cannot yet articulate. Of course I can’t, because the horrors of what people are incurring is way beyond my lived experience.

If the pen is mightier than the sword, but I am out of my own words, whose words can I share with you to somehow be of service?

That question lead me to Google Palestinian poets. Gazan poet Ahmed Abu Artema is a non violent activist who, just this weekend, lost 5 of his family in air strikes, including his 12 year old son. His son featured in this video when he was much younger.

In one scene they are talking about his son’s fear when he hears rockets go off. Ahmed tries to alleviate this fear by encouraging his son to cheer ‘Hooray’ each time they hear a rocket.

This scene reminded me of the film ‘Life is Beautiful’ when the character Guido Orefice brings wit and humour into the daily struggle of trying to survive in a Jewish concentration camp in order to shield his son from the monstrous reality.

In increasingly fractious times, art reminds us of our common humanity. At times like this paralysis can set in: what is the best thing to say, do, share? How will it be helpful? Where will it cause harm?

Through reading the poems of my son’s GCSE English Literature reading list I am reminded that this paralysis is, in itself, an understandable human reaction during times of acute conflict and power struggle.

“We cast a shadow on something wherever we stand, and it is no good moving from place to place to save things; because the shadow always follows. Choose a place where you won't do harm - yes, choose a place where you won't do very much harm, and stand in it for all you are worth, facing the sunshine.”

E. M. Forster

This reminds me to stand in my values, of courage, inspiration, humour, creativity and trustworthiness. It reminds me to not let the fear of casting a shadow through my lack of education win out over my desire to shine a light of hope, to rehumanise one poem at a time.

“And yet we need not despair, indeed, we cannot despair; the evidence of history shows us that men have always insisted on behaving creatively under the shadow of the sword; that they have done their artistic and scientific and domestic stuff for the sake of doing it, and that we had
better follow their example.”

E.M Forster

In these times when it can feel darker again, we can choose to shine brighter… a bit like Guy in The Croods.

Those who stand firm in their light can make a difference.

After surviving the Holocaust, Viktor Frankl wrote in his book ‘Man’s search for Meaning’

“For the first time in my life I saw the truth as it is set into song by so many poets, proclaimed as the final wisdom by so many thinkers. The truth - that Love is the ultimate and highest goal to which man can aspire. Then I grasped the meaning of the greatest secret that human poetry and human thought and belief have to impart: The salvation of man is through love and in love.”

In poetry we can find assurance that the experience of grieving, hurting, loving, longing and belonging are common amongst all of us.

Enough for Me

Enough for Me
Enough for me to die on her earth
be buried in her
to melt and vanish into her soil
then sprout forth as a flower
played with by a child from my country.
Enough for me to remain
in my country’s embrace
to be in her close as a handful of dust
a sprig of grass
a flower.

by Fadwa Tuqan

When in paralysis, ask: ‘What do the writers, poets and artists say?’

Enough

I’ve heard enough.

The record stuck.

The song a chalkboard screech.

I cannot speak.

There are no words.

Defences have been vented,

Accusations hurled.

I cannot write.

No ink splurge can do justice.

But…

I can feel.

It’s all I have.

And so the body heaves

And so the tears fall.

With love,

Jacky x