Healing Words 14-15
The successful Healing Words project continued in 2014/15 with workshops delivered to participants on Talygarn Ward, County Hospital, young people at the Serennu Children’s Centre, Hafal (Newport) and women supported by the Sanctuary Project at Bethel Church, who are resident in Newport after seeking asylum in the UK.
The Healing Words project uses creative writing and art as a tool for positive mental health and well-being and is a partnership between Gwent Arts in Health, Literature Wales, Newport Live Community Arts and Torfaen CBC and works with a diverse range of groups across the greater Gwent area.
As part of the Healing Words project celebrated poet Patrick Jones delivered workshops on the acute mental health ward at Talygarn, Pontypool and performed to people on the Dementia unit at St Woolos Hospital, Newport; scriptwriter, singer and film maker, Ndidi Spencer worked with young people on the autistic spectrum to create short drama pieces exploring stories, writer clare e. potter and artist Catherine Lewis worked with women from the Sanctuary project at Bethel Church Newport to produce their words and textiles.
Women from the Sanctuary project performed and exhibited their work as part of the South Wales Literature Senedd Showcase event in June 2015. Work from the Sanctuary group was also displayed as an independent show at The Project Space in Newport from 12th until 30th August 2015.
Please find examples of poems below:
Writing with Spices
When I think of you
I remember red,
red like a bell pepper,
I remember the taste of the food
that my mum used to make
to keep us healthy.
I remember all the chat and laughter
and fun around the table with family.
I remember everything from my childhood
the crowdy and noisy village market
Where I could smell you and all other things.
My Favourite Smell
I like the smell of a new book: it opens
new experiences, new adventure, new romance
new thrills. Every little feeling that was hidden
in myself, I discover one by one.
By Rakhi
Shoda
I love the smell after the rain
from the wet earth
from the wet grass
from the flowers
from the leaves
when you suddenly get some air
when there is no wind
that wild shoda smell
more than once, over and over and over.
By Rakhi
Lime Medicine
A squeeze of lime and gin
to treat a headache, also used for dieting
I remember my father
mixing it, lime and gin when we fell ill
By Joy
Nice Aroma
The beautiful fresh (natural) smell
of mixed spices, sweet and beautiful
reminds me of my granny, my childhood
musky, vanilla, strawberry, the confidence
of no preservatives, additives or artificial
food colours.
By Margaret
(Missing)
I carry the bag
given to me
as a gift, love.
It is full of missing,
It is full of old memories.
Being Desperate
is like being surrounded
by black.
Always look where the shine
comes from:
family, friends, cinta.
By Jenny
Hiraeth
A longing,
My family, friends, everything,
a longing for comfort
missing happiness;
it is a grief,
even deep grief,
a clenched fist.
Efforts for a better future, efforts, efforts.
Always, there is hope.
By Madelaine, Nectar, Jenny, Chioma, Ishraqa, and Samina
Alhumdulillah
Thank you for everything.
God, Jesus, Allah.
Our house, our living, our life,
our safety, protection, friendship,
peace, the air we breathe,
the water we drink.
We are healthy.
Thank you for that.
By Ishraka, Jenny, Chioma, Samina, Nectar, and Madelaine
Honesty
Open mind
Open heart
Not lying
Welcoming
Greatness.
Be truth
Warming
Friendship.
Open door
Open mouth
Freshness
Open hands;
Lovely open heart.
By Nectar, Samina, Chioma, Ishraka, Jenny, and Madelaine
Ebere (Mercy)
Kind
Forgiveness
Politeness
Softness
Family
Love;
I bury bitterness
bury hate.
I’d bury untruthfulness, lies
suspicion.
Show courage.
Lord have mercy on us.
By Chioma, Ishraka, Madelaine, Samina, Nectar, and Jenny
Peace. House. Faith
Peace in my house.
I have peace and faith in my house.
Peace comes into my house.
Faith comes into my house.
Peace and faith dwell in my house.
My house loves peace and faith.
My peace, faith and my house.
Floating away on the sea,
my depth is full
look deeper, look out
Oh my, joy and air, breeze.
By Mary
Step up, step up
higher in to the sky
bright and beautiful
but with contracting light.
Oh gracious you, near me
now be bold. My friends
and I are together, joy is busting up.
Come, come, let’s be happy together.
We all need each other. I call you
all now, higher and higher. Express
yourself. Let’s do things in Oneness.
I challenge you to have more things to do!
By Mary
Cherish
Everything you want to get
you have to pay out with effort
and then you will have it. If
everything you cherish is worthy.
Who knows what will come tomorrow
if you don’t do something now, you can’t
do anything in the future. You have
to cherish now. Today is present.
By Ling
Darkness
I feel the sunset and the darkness
a voice comes up:
don’t worry, it’s safe in the darkness
when you are brave. The darkness
will go soon.
The voice, new hope, the sun comes again.
Light
The sun is rising. The city
starts to be bright, gold.
The grass is standing up
and the flower is smiling.
Different people have different
feelings for the new day.
By Ling
Everything
A woman uses her body
to tell her story
and brings the house down
By Ling
Listening to Music
When I hear the sound float,
I feel I am standing on a mountain top.
I was closing my eyes. I could see
everywhere. Green. I can feel
the nature. I want to laugh and laugh and laugh.
I don’t want to open my eyes again.
By Sithy
Be You Happy
Life is much better if you let her
continue without something
stopping you being happy.
Don’t walk by the wall, all the time
don’t be scared and stay in the dark,
it is supposed to be that you come out
and make your life happy.
Make your life shining and relaxing
or dance like the flow, move
with the weather, just forget
everything in the past and carry on.
Let happy smiles fill the house
in every corner.
By Braa Elmahadi
