The group’s booklet of creative writing
‘At first it was difficult hearing different voices and recognising them, but eventually we all learnt to respect each other, not override one another, listen to whoever was talking, pause and wait for the next person,’ Janet enthusiastically explains. ‘It was a great success and it kept the fellowship going!’ Margaret adds: ‘I think the continuity has been so important over the months. Every Wednesday morning we could talk to each other on the telephone, and now we can meet face to face. It’s kept us all in touch and supporting one another right through.’ The writers were eager to share why the group is important to them. Margaret feels that the process of creative self-expression as a Christian is an important way of sharing faith with others: ‘Being creative is so important to us, especially when we’ve all been isolated for a while.’ Kathleen Roos agrees: ‘Putting down on paper the many thoughts and feelings that I forget to express or that come up at an inappropriate time means a lot to me because it’s an extension of myself.’ ‘I’ve always written and it’s a way to express and arrange my thoughts,’ adds new member Ray Guffick, who made the group laugh with his comic poem. ‘When I first became a Christian I was given the gift of writing poetry and, although I haven’t written for many
KNOW YOUR TANKAS FROM YOUR PANTOUMS Tanka A Japanese poem with a set pattern of 31 syllables Haiku A three-line Japanese poem with a set pattern of 17 syllables Limerick A five-line comic form of verse, with lines one, two and five rhyming Villanelle A poem with 19 lines, with two lines recurring throughout and each line ending with one of only two rhymes Sestina A poem with six stanzas of six lines each, followed by a triplet, and each line ending with one of six words Pantoum A poem with four lines for each stanza and lines two and four of each stanza repeated as lines one and three in the next
years, I would like to get back into it again.’ Dorothy Sparrow writes evocative poems about experiences from her youth. She says diffidently: ‘I hadn’t really written creatively – I’d written letters in offices, but I hadn’t thought about writing in this way. It brings back a lot of memories that I’ve not thought of for a long time.’ ‘I just love writing!’ enthuses Joyce. ‘When I was a girl I used to learn things by heart and enjoyed speaking them out. I became a teacher and still loved writing.’ ‘Since retiring I’ve written and published a book – a very ordinary romance novel called Once Bitten, after the saying “once bitten twice shy”,’ she laughingly adds. Author Linda K Sienkiewicz said: ‘The act of writing is closely tied to empathy and the inner connectedness we have as human beings.’ The Doncaster writers’ group reflect this. They not only enjoy the opportunity to express their writing talents and share their Christian faith with others in a creative way, they encourage and care for one another, as well as support the corps with the funds they raise. O Email
doncaster.corps@ salvationarmy.org.uk or telephone 01302 538248 to buy a copy of the Christmas booklet
MELITA IS EDITORIAL ASSISTANT, SALVATIONIST Salvationist 22 January 2022
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