Scribble 22

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INDEPENDENCE 22

Spring 2017

Creative Writing & Arts Magazine

Scribble Magazine

HELLO! Scribble is part of the Tell Us Another One creative writing project run by Cartwheel Arts in the North West of England.

The project operates in the Greater Manchester Boroughs of Rochdale, Bury and Oldham and is funded by Big Lottery and supported by each borough respectively.

We run monthly creative writing groups for adults in locations around the three boroughs considered to be in need of cultural provision.

These groups are free and open to everyone with no previous experience of creative writing needed. You don’t need to have perfect grammar or for your first language to be English.

If you’re interested in creative writing and would like to work with professional writers and meet other people in your area, your local Tell Us Another One group is waiting to welcome you.

Scribble Magazine c/o Tell Us Another One Cartwheel Arts 110 Manchester Street Heywood OL10 1DW Telephone 01706 361 300 Editor Paul Stanley TUAO@cartwheelarts.org.uk www.tellusanotherone.org

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Hello and goodbye. Parting is such sweet sorrow.

So, we have reached the end of this run of Scribble Magazine. Like the Littlest Hobo; maybe tomorrow, we’ll want to settle down, until tomorrow, we’ll just keep moving on.

We still have a jam-packed issue for you. Speaking of which, Chris Jam has written us a review of the second Bilingual Authors project at Kingsway Park High School and Danielle Porter reports from our Power in Your Pocket project.

Each of our creative writing group facilitators has chosen a member from their groups to write about. We hope their stories will inspire you to get writing as well as showcasing the need for the groups in our area.

Rebecca Lupton has completed her project photographing our glamorous group members. We hope you like the pics we selected.

We have all new flash-fiction from Jack Stocker as well as the usual submissions from our writing groups.

Printed by Olympic Press www.olympicpress.co.uk Scribble is published by Cartwheel Arts. All rights reserved Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is strictly prohibited.

Paul Stanley Editor

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Shellah is a member of the Spotland writers’ group. For more portraits by Rebecca Lupton, turn to page 20 for our Meet the Writers feature.

4 Report: Power In Your Pocket 6 Report: Case Studies

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Jack Stocker: Human Contact

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Meet the Writers: Spotland, Dumers Lane & Seedfield

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Selected Submissions

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42 Report: Bilingual Authors 46

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Rick Walker: Another Cliffhanger Ending!

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R ep o rt

R e p ort

Power In Your Pocket was a creative writing and digital arts project funded by Big Lottery Fund and Rochdale Cohesion Hub. Parents from across Rochdale Borough worked with writers and artists using technology at their fingertips to produce a book and online content about being a parent.

Photograph by Rebecca Lupton.

The participating parents hailed from Darnhill, Deeplish, Kirkholt and Langley, and met once a week for seven sessions from January to March.

In that time they wrote poems, songs, letters of love and advice, they also performed and created the artwork, with their children even having a go.

The projects final celebration was a book launch and live reading amongst family and the projects key partners. You can find out more here:

Read the book — cartwheelarts.org.uk/event/power-in-your-pocket5 Read our blog — www.tellusanotherone.org See photos of the project — www.flickr.com/photos/cartwheelarts Hear some of their work — www.audioboom.com/cartwheelarts

One of the artists Courtney Hayles said “Not only are they funny, quick witted and focused, they are also courageous, brave and honest writers who tell the most heart-warming stories about parenthood. I cannot thank them enough for the love that comes with every stroke of ink to the paper.”

Participating writers and artists involved included: Writer Michelle Green, musician Claire Mooney, performance poet Shamshad Khan, poet and communications coach Courtney Hayles and Filmmaker Nick Farrimond.

This article was written by Danielle Porter, co-Project Coordinator of Tell Us Another One. Her background is in broadcasting and community engagement.

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POWER IN YOUR POCKET S c r i bbl e

Ca s e Study

C as e St udy

Phil Barling is a Cartwheel Arts Writer, through and through. He is a regular attender at the Dumers Lane Writing Group and he also frequents other Cartwheel groups. For this case study, Reece Williams sat down with Phil and had a chat with him about his considerable experience at Tell Us Another One.

CASE STUDY

During his time at Cartwheel (well over 7 years), Phil has developed a really distinct style of writing. His work reflects on culture and all its nuances, be it the demise of analogue music, family and relationships and the strength of community. Phil is primarily a poet but he is also an adept short story writer and keen music reviewer. Above all, he’s a real gent and a massive community asset.

Phil really relishes the opportunity to benefit from the guidance offered by the professional Cartwheel Arts facilitators and he also steps in to deliver workshops at Dumers Lane when Reece Williams (lead facilitator at Dumers) isn’t around.

What does it mean to be a part of TUAO, Phil?

Well, it’s basically a place that provides a forum for everyone to connect.

To respond to our fellow writers with our emotions. It enables us and defines us and helps us to celebrate our community. Without this project there’s no connections-no cohesion. It brings us together and stops us from staying at home and just turning to dust.

What impact has the project had on your life?

It’s reminded us that there are more things that unites us than things that divide us – no matter where we come from. It’s provided a platform for us to say what we want and need to say, as well as getting us out of the house!

We as a society talk a lot about social cohesion, and this project actually exemplifies social cohesiveness in action.

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What would you say is the most enjoyable aspect of the project is?

I’m not sure whether enjoyable and challenging can mean the same thing... [laughs] …the spontaneity and the craft of the workshop idea is very stimulating, very challenging. So I enjoy that. It’s just the immediate connection with other people. It can provide inspirational moments that we all take away and remember. It drives us forward in our everyday lives.

What do you want to see from the project in the future and why is it important?

I think you’d have to have some kind of think tank for people to put forward their ideas of what they would personally want to see in terms of style. You know, whether it should be more… leaning towards teaching, rather than people just reading… but what is great about it is that it draws from us all thoughts and ideas that we didn’t even know were there. And I think if we lose that (TUAO and its impact on participants) we’ve lost a lot. I’ll just say that if you take the art from the community… you turn our towns in to cultural wastelands and I think that’s the danger that we’re facing. — (S) S c r i bbl e

Ca s e Study

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promises to attend next time. Attiya has been fundamental in running the group. She is committed, hard working and always has a smile on her face.

She helps everyone write, especially those who are struggling. Working with her has taught me so much about how to be with people – how to give without condition.

Attiya was the obvious choice for this study. From when I first met her it’s been a joy to see her flourish as the group has grown and the members have progressed with their writing and confidence. We have been lucky enough to attend many events and deliver several projects taking the group members far and wide, attending literary events, from Scribble Festival to a recipe book on using up left overs which included the women’s stories and recycling hints.

Another project was a play called ‘Village Girl’. This was a story created from the personal stories of all the members of the group. Most had arrived in the UK through marriages arranged when they lived in Pakistan.

They all had in common the challenge of leaving behind all that they knew and arriving in a new country alone, away from their families. The story was about overcoming obstacles and making a success of life.

When we had completed the script, I made a list of the props and was pondering on where I would buy everything. Attiya asked me to wait. She left with her sister Shagufta. They were gone less than half an hour and returned with everything on the list. They had raided their own homes for the props. This is a typical example of Attiya dealing with everything immediately and getting things done. She knew how important the story was to the group and did what was needed to make it happen.

Its been amazing working with Attiya over the past 6 years. I have seen her develop as a writer and group leader, gaining confidence and skills. Attiya has shown that women like her will flourish when given the environment to learn in.

“In the group we meet once a month. Attiya always rings and reminds us day before. This group helps me to do my writing again. Because for a long time I never write anything. I was busy helping my family. I get my confidence in writing. Anjum and Attiya are very good and help us write different stories over time. ” — Group member

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Anjum Malik has facilitated Deeplish Story Group for the last six years. Here she writes about her experience of working alongside Attiya Malik, a community champion for Cartwheel’s Rochdale writers’ groups.

Attiya is a mother and wife, who runs a child minding service and every month helps me by calling each and every member of the group to remind them of the writing workshop. She helps them get to Deeplish Community Centre, she may drive them, or arrange for some to travel together. She always knows what’s going on. She tells me who is coming, why some members can’t come, and why some have sent apologies, with love and

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Ca s e Study

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Michelle Green has facilitated the LGBT Writers’ Group from the beginning. She has been talking to one of it’s most prolific contributors, Oliver Waite.

CASE STUDY

What do you want to see in the future from Cartwheel Arts?

I’d like to do some intersectionality work. As in it would be great if there is already say groups similar to the LGBT group for disabled people, or people of colour to work with them at times. Lots of LGBT people fit into another minority group, and even if not to work with other minority groups to learn more about that group and how to be a better ally if you are not part of that minority group. Obviously not everyone would fit into all the different categories, but often learning through media such as creative writing is a great way to learn. If there aren’t groups for other minority’s already then it would be great to see some, in terms of working together and separate ones, in terms of going to other groups. — (S)

What does being a member of a Cartwheel creative writing group mean to you?

It is about having a shared connection in one aspect of your life (in this case being LGBT) and that one thing brings you together, but you also meet a group of diverse people and explore different ways to write and all come up with different ideas. It is about belonging and having a safe space which is for LGBT people, which isn’t about drinking or clubbing or loud music and lots of people. It is about belonging to the LGBT community but with other people who also enjoy creative writing.

How has it impacted on your life and your writing?

It has made me realise that I am not completely useless and a failure at creative writing. At school I was made to feel stupid because I was expected to work one certain way and if you didn’t you were doing it wrong. As I couldn’t work that certain way (due to being autistic and neurodivergent) I was basically told I was a failure at creative writing. To be in a group where you can work your way with no judgement is great, whether that is in terms of how you actually write down your pieces (e.g.

Paper, iPad etc) or just how you get to the end goal. When a task is set, or talked about if I am confused people are willing to try and explain it to me multiple times, if I still don’t understand I might try to get to the end goal a different way, or I may not do it. None of that is a problem, I am made to feel like my contribution is enough whatever it is. It has made me realise that I can write poetry to a standard where people say I am talented at it and I use these poems to express myself. It is also great just being in an environment doing creative writing where I am not an anxious wreck and my disabilities are not seen as a weakness or a problem and I am not made to do things a certain way that I just cannot.

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Carol McGowan is a regular attender at Darnhill Writers, which has been facilitated for three years by Shirley May. Here Shirley reflects on conversations with Carol and her approach to writing.

Carol is a woman who would tell you that she is not a writer. However, she loves to read books and often raids the stock at Darnhill Library, where she first heard about Tell Us Another One. She has worked with Cartwheel Arts for a number of years and is a regular attender at Darnhill Festival, which is produced in partnership with Cartwheel.

Carol says of the writing group “I love the monthly workshops. It’s the only place that I feel that I can write. Writing at home is virtually impossible

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Ca s e Study

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Shamshad khan is a poet and resilience coach who has facilitated Spotland Story Group for over six years. She has been talking to group regular Shellah Tasab.

CASE STUDY

because of the nature of my household. The two hours a month are something I see as my time. This excludes family and other responsibilities that I have. It’s a time that I wouldn’t give up easily.”

Carol uses the workshops to respond to the writing stimuli which I provide as the workshop facilitator. We have been looking at literature from around the world, introducing the group to writing from a broad canon of poetry and short stories. We use inspirational lines to get the writers, including Carol, to think about their own stories.

Carol, by her own admission, was not always a confident writer, but would always have a go. She began to see her stories and poems as a way to reflect on her own life and use memoir as a creative tool. Her work has become provocative and intriguing as she talks about her early life as a looked after child. She wants to develop her stories so that they can be of use and inspiration to others experiencing the same challenges.

“Even though the funding may run out for the workshops, I believe that we should continue as a group if the library will give us the space. I also believe coming into contact with a leader of colour has informed me that although we are different nationalities, skin colour does not mean that we do not share similar stories. We are all the same.”

She also says that Cartwheel has helped her by exposing her to different workshop leaders including Chris Nelson, Reece Williams and Anjum Malik.

She believes that the socialisation that she’s gained from being part of the Darnhill group has not only enhanced her writing and style but given her a sense of wellbeing, and of being part of a community of writers.

She believes that being given a safe space to share her work has caused her to make long lasting friendships that have massively encouraged her to develop as a community writer. Carol feels more than equipped to share her work on paper and then to share it in public and has done in the past at Tell Us Another One Scribble Festivals. She would like to see the project continue to exist and gain additional funding as it has become a vital part of her monthly routine. — (S)

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“I surprise myself every time I come. At the end I go home and I’ve got this thing I’ve written, I can’t believe it.” says Shellah Tasab about her experience of attending Spotland Story Group. “It makes me feel a lot happier and confident and I’ve discovered lots of skills about myself.”

For many years now I’ve had the pleasure of working with the group and the privilege of seeing the developments Shellah and others have made.

I was spoilt for choice in terms of who to focus on for this interview as many of the participants have made incredible progress and achieved new heights in their independent creative ventures.

Born in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Shellah came to England aged 18 after her marriage and has lived in Rochdale for twenty five years. Like many of the other women she juggles the demands of family life and taking out time for herself. She has six children and has worked as a dinner lady and attended courses including a one week residential at the Joan Miro foundation arts course in Majorca.

I quickly recognised that Shellah was particularly articulate and made excellent contributions in helping me translate and interpret between English and Urdu. This particularly came to light when I was doing translations of “The Arabian Nights”. To encourage her further, I asked Shellah to translate sections of the story as part of the project “Different Moons” I was working on at the time.

“It was special to me because I always liked translating. I didn’t think I was that good. You kept telling me, but it didn’t seem real to me…. The

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women there complimented me, said I was really good. I felt so proud, so confident. I can actually do this, it’s not just Shamshad telling me!”

With this experience under her belt, Shellah readily volunteered for the next opportunity, this time to go on a Manchester based radio station ALL FM. “It was a very different experience. I’d never been to a radio station before or recorded anything.” She is beaming. “Makes you feel happy and proud. Oh yes, I recorded that, that’s me.” She doesn’t stop there.

“Crescent Radio are looking for volunteers. I’m thinking I might go.”

As well as the confidence and skills she’s developed, Shellah like others who attend have expressed how the sessions help their wellbeing. “All these sessions keep me out of a lot of the depression that’s in my family.

Whilst me, I’m the lucky one, who doesn’t have it and the group helps a lot!”

The benefits do not end with her, not surprisingly there are benefits for her family. “After I’ve been here, I’m a lot better with my children too.

When we get something printed in the magazine or a photo, my kids are so proud. So it has a massive impact on my life.” She jokes with me. “If only it could cure my forgetfulness!”

Shellah has strong feelings about the benefits to the group of having trained facilitators. “I would absolutely love for it to continue. Having you here makes a massive difference. Usually when I come I’m blank, you always point me in the right direction.”

Saying that, Shellah would love individuals in the group to have opportunities to develop their skills. She suggests they deliver sessions for schools, closely supported by the facilitators.

With this depth of endorsement and these far reaching benefits in terms of wellbeing and access to potential employment that the arts offers, it would make sense for funders and the government to invest more not less into projects like the Story Groups. How could we possibly disappoint Shellah and others like her who look forward to the sessions so much?

“I feel excited and happy, specially to see everyone, thinking about what’s going to be the next topic.”. — (S)

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Ca s e Study

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Anjum Malik is a lecturer, script writer and poet, and facilitator of Seedfield Writers. She has been talking to Fran Ardern, a regular member of the group.

CASE STUDY

“I get excited every time I attend the writing workshop”, Fran tells me, with a cheeky twinkle in her eye. When I ask her how long has she been attending Seedfield Writing Group, her reply is typical and indicative of the happy, approachable, fun person she is.

“Since 1066”.

We try and work out together how long, and settle on around five to six years.

I remember Fran arriving for one of the early meetings we had at Moorside Library in Bury. She really does light up the room. She is the butt of her own jokes first and foremost. Her humour comes through her writing. She writes incredibly funny, yet personal, deep and moving poems and stories. She’s been through some tough personal situations in the years she has been coming. But she very rarely misses a session and has written her way through her difficult times.

“It gets you out of the house, gives you a new slant on the day. It’s a meeting of like minds and exchange of ideas. A wonder of the different stories and poems of different people. The group gives me an audience in the people who attend. An acceptance of my efforts. I feel I’m a member of a ‘special people’”.

When I was asked to write this study about Fran, I asked her fellow group members what they would say about her: “Fran has been instrumental in encouraging new members to join the group. To come and become involved. It is through her commitment and enthusiasm that the group thrives.”

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atmosphere. This gives the members confidence and a place to move forward with their writing.”

“Fran often sees things in her own unique way, offering a very different perspective.”

“Fran has enthusiasm in buckets. Humour in barrowloads. And a sense of companionship which puts people at ease. When she encouraged me to come to this group, I fell into step quite naturally. Being a member of this group feeds my writing, giving me a sounding board and critique from others. All of them are individual writers in their own right and unique voices.”

“Fran provides humour and irrelevance and healthy disinterest for the literary status. I don’t think she knows how good she is.”

Recently Fran was invited by an established writers’ group in Fylde to do a reading of her work. They offered her a fee, plus travel and a lovely meal. Fran, like the other members in the group, has come a long way in her writings. Through their commitment, passion and enthusiasm they are now putting together a poetry collection and regularly performing readings of their work by invitation. — (S) S c r i bbl e

Fi cti o n

Fi ct i on

HUMAN CONTACT Jack Stocker

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he comes here every day.

Of all the places in the city, the plaza is Olurell’s favourite. She’s sitting halfway up her favourite set of steps, watching the light refracting from the curved glass towers, and shimmering from the wide rectangular pools that run across its length. When she closes her eyes, she can hear the low hubbub of people mingling with the faint, distant rush of traffic.

A soft, enveloping blanket of sound.

But something’s wrong.

It’s a faint flutter on the edge of her consciousness, something she’s learned never to ignore. Someone is watching her.

Olurell looks to her left, just in time to catch his eye. He’s sitting a few feet away, along the same step as her. He winks. She looks away, keeping her eyes fixed on the water. Calm. She has to stay calm. A shadow passes over her. He’s blocking her light.

“Mind if I sit here?”

Yes. YES! No – calm.

She looks up and smiles. “Sure.”

He sits down beside her, resting his forearm on one knee. He’s young, attractive; at ease. All Collectors are.

“Just wonderful, isn’t it?” he sighs.

Just breathe normally. Breathe. Don’t let him see.

“It’s beautiful.” she agrees. Her scars are itching. She runs her tongue over her incisors. Blunt. Human.

“Do you live here?”

He doesn’t know. Everything’s fine.

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“Close by.” she says, fighting to keep her voice steady.

He turns to smile at her. “I do envy you.”

His eyes are brown. The last Collector’s had been blue. She remembers how they bulged from their sockets when she drove the Lightblade into his throat.

“Are you here on your own?”

He asks the question lightly, but she can hear the edge in his voice. He’s close enough to lunge at her, but she can feel the cool metal of the hilt in her grip in her left hand, out of his sight. She’s faster now. Stronger. No hesitating this time.

Do it.

She can see stubble under his chin; he hasn’t shaved this morning.

You have to kill him now.

Does he live alone? Do the Collectors even have families?

I’m not going back…

Something changes in his face, and he jerks back as if he’s been struck.

“I’m sorry – you want to be on your own.”

Olurell says nothing, knuckles white on the grip. He gets up quickly, his composure gone.

“Sorry, I hope I – sorry.”

She watches him walk across the plaza. A minute passes. Then her breath comes flooding out of her in bursts, her heart pounding hard enough to make her feel sick. She can suddenly feel the tracks of the tears on her face. She was about to kill him. Murder him. Just a random stranger.

It’s dangerous here, she realises. She’s dangerous. Even if the Collectors don’t find her here, she still can’t be near people. She has to move again.

Go, run. Find another continent. Maybe even another planet.

Olurell takes a deep breath, steadying herself. Then she stands up, and walks away from the water. She doesn’t look back. — (S)

Jack is a copywriter and enthusiasm enthusiast based in Manchester. He has been writing creatively since the age of 12, and writing coherently since the age of 15. His other hobbies include playing video games, fruitlessly learning to play the guitar, and trying to remember why he came upstairs.

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M eet the W r i ter s

M e e t t he Wri t e r s

MEET THE WRITERS SPOTLAND Photographs by Rebecca Lupton

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Opposite: Yasmin.

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Above: Karen.

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M eet the W r i ter s

M e e t t he Wri t e r s

MEET THE WRITERS DUMERS LANE

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Above: Rakhshinda.

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Opposite: Jill.

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M eet the W r i ter s

M e e t t he Wri t e r s

MEET THE WRITERS DEEPLISH

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Above: Dumers Lane Writers.

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Opposite: Naseem.

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M eet the W r i ter s

M e e t t he Wri t e r s

MEET THE WRITERS SEEDFIELD

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Above: Attiya (top), Mussarat (left) and Shagufta.

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Opposite: Elaine.

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M eet the W r i ter s

Submi s s i ons

Choices Gillian Popplewell

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My mother’s independence has been stolen.

Snatched away silently, by an invisible thief. on the day she entered a care home.

Now someone tells her when to rise, what to wear, when to eat, where to sit.

Demands voiced as choices – Would you like to?

It would never occur to my mother To simply say no.

I live the hope that one day she might.

Above: Jim (top left), Kath (top right) and Kath & Denise (bottom).

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Submi s s i ons

Freedom Oliver Waite

You’re my freedom But others don’t see it that way You’re my freedom But others think of you as a restriction.

You’re my freedom But others only see what I now can’t do You’re my freedom But others don’t see the benefits.

You’re my freedom: less cuts and bruises.

You’re my freedom: less falls You’re my freedom: I can leave my flat.

You’re my freedom: less broken bones.

You’re my freedom But others see you as a negative You’re my freedom But others think you have destroyed my life.

You’re my freedom But for others you’re an embarrassment You’re my freedom But others want you gone, openly telling me so.

You’re my freedom: less head injuries.

You’re my freedom: less pain and danger.

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You’re my freedom My reason for less exhaustion.

You’re my freedom My reason I don’t get stuck in public and have to crawl.

Yes, I can’t hike up a mountain, But without you I’d be stuck indoors.

I know you’re not restricting me.

Without you, I’m restricted so much more.

And no, I’ve not given in!

I’ve done the opposite by accepting you’re my freedom.

It’s not my fault the world isn’t designed for you.

That ramps and lifts might not be there.

That dropped kerbs are often blocked.

That places are often too narrow.

You’re still my freedom.

The world just hasn’t caught up yet.

You’re my freedom.

You’re my wheelchair.

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Independence

On The Beach

Lorraine Gee

Trevor Clarke

I was so afraid of my new life, I was responsible for all aspects of my present and future. I could smell the sea but felt nervous of travelling there alone.

To Brighton. Holiday Inn. Pickled egg, chips and Pukka Then The Pier at night with K

I was leaving my home of twenty years and looking for a new one. I was swamped by fear of the unknown, everything appeared to be a shade of grey and the weather looked forever foggy.

I then walked into the house which I instinctively knew would become my home. I was like the child I once was when writing my Christmas wish list. Everything felt positive and I was happily looking forward. I felt a huge sense of “I am me,� as I put my red floral wallpaper in the B&Q trolley.

I stepped out into the rain but felt a warm glow.

I walked to my car and drove towards my future.

I am no longer scared, I am not rich or famous.

I am me and at peace with myself. Actually I am rich indeed.

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The Next Dimension Alan Stead

The pleasure of meeting new friends To sing and dance until the evening ends To live life to the full and accept all that it sends The greatest treasures in life are friends.

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For those About to Lose Their Independence Phil Barling

I collected the tears from a long sleepless night and placed them here next to yours let them be the glue of hope that holds us all together So, tell them, go on, lock the gates for the last time on our parks build supermarkets and luxury homes on our Green Belt close down our libraries fill our heads with fluff so we can stay home and talk to nobody make bank transfers at 3am order our groceries from Ocada in our pyjamas There’ll be no noise from the empty streets except the whimper of a man sleeping in his own shadow under the viaduct Tell them GO ON shut down our walk-in centres fill our heads with fluff so we can stay home with our tablets self medicating , so we can check our e-mails every five minutes but if we go to the front door as often, to see if anyone is knocking they’ll lock us up, and confiscate our bus passes and chain us to the Universal Lap Top where we can Google the word Suicide and get full instructions plus a demonstration video Me, I’d rather chase seagulls down a beach in the freezing rain

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Their vision of today is more like a raging sunset than a Brave New Dawn a vision where Question Time will consist of four politicians wringing their hands and saying nothing, when they’re not playing Pass the Parcel with the NHS where we’ll all be sat in one huge nuclear bunker surrounded by rainbow coloured wheelie bins A vision where consumerism is just a plastic bag with the bottom fallen out

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SO. GO ON, tell them shut down our libraries fill our heads with fluff close the walk-in centres build on our Green Belt Shut down our swimming pools shut the parks, who really needs them give us 24 hour reality TV, feed us pap shut down, put down, cut down, kill our appetite for knowledge suppress our desire to hold hands, to connect with our eyes and our skin So, close down our minds, if you think you can, but we will never lose the arts in our lives and the life in our art and you’ll never stop a river flowing or shut down our imagination… Will you ??

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Independence

When Birds Get Wings

Sharon Mercer

Souhad Al Sharif

I woke up this morning On a warm summers day Got very excited It was my first payday

Leaving that nest for the first time I was happy, excited but scared As a little birds with little wings that I had to watch lengthening Thinking it will take a long, long time

I didn’t know what to spend it on I had to pay rent By the end of the week It was all spent Another week of working To feel the same way Oh I can’t wait for next pay day

I had to survive watching these White and black feathers developing Some were getting brighter While others got darker at different times 36

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Flying alone, breathing freedom Tasting all sorts of feelings Singing the songs I dreamt of my soft neat nest

I looked at the trees They where covered in green leaves I fell over and scraped my knee I went to the market To look around People shouting five for a pound Oranges, apples even pears Nice and colourful I stopped and stared I have independence I live on my own All of my family Don’t want to know

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Independence

(Partition) – Is It Independence?

Karen A Porter

Yasmin Hussain Translated by Shamshad Khan

They say we are independent, but it doesn’t feel like it As I awake for my morning prayer, I feel the profound loss of my neighbour “But we are independent!” they say

Emotions excelling beyond myself Freedom, positivity direction of strength Focused unbending aligned unique To weather the storm oppositions freak.

Focused determined unbounded from chains.

A trumpet resounding a victory blow independent and free no burden is owned.

Happy resourceful is the path for me Once weighed down, now I am free

As I milk my cows, my friend doesn’t shout over and ask after my family “But we are independent!” they announce

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Independence Jennifer Ryan

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I scatter the seeds for the chickens, and think of my friends scattering into the unknown “But we are independent!” they proclaim As I cut the towering corn, I remember last years harvest where the whole village helped one another “But we are independent!” they rejoice As I complete the evening prayer, I feel the deafening silence of my own lonely thoughts : Am I independent? I think

Footfall impressions I make in the sand now My marks – temporary but seen No other footfalls do I follow I make my own. I own my path

I remember the panic of their moonlit escape, the chaos we all saw and felt inside : Are they independent now?

We were just ordinary people who accepted each other as we accepted ourselves

An impression of my own being Life, experiences – outwardly moulded; I make my mark

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My own time

Moon

Elaine Patricia Morris

Cdr(R) Muhammad Bashir T.bt

A garden seat beside a rose a cup of orange and cranberry tea, quiet tranquility, beyond a hard day at the office.

Moon is lovely, it gives the light.

Brighten our Earth during the night.

Always seems to be moving away.

We don’t know it goes which way.

A gentle breeze blows through my hair, sun’s gentle warmth surrounds me, my time to simply be, at home in my own presence.

I let the thoughts and memories of struggles throughout the day drift away, and watch the bees at work.

With nature’s backing sounds, I take up my singing bowl, hand hammered in Tibet, gentle at first, I begin to play.

When sun is up it is not in sight.

But shower the golden light at night.

Do you love this beautiful earth?

You circle around it since your birth.

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How is the good lady spinning the thread.

I wish, I could send her butter and bread.

Slow the movement, firm the touch, in crescendo brass will sing, my life has wings, I fly into my own time.

Deeper sounds and slower breath, I sit in meditative mood, where life is good, and I become at one, with who I am.

Tones so mellow, angelic notes, that float my mind, relieve the stress, take me there, where life is less, but perfect.

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Earlier this year writer Chris Jam and singer songwriter Claire Mooney were invited by the EAL team to work with a group of young people at Kingsway Park High School in Rochdale. They were asked to explore language identity and emotions using poetry and song. Many of the students were only months and in some cases weeks into their first experience of England. Here Chris reflects on the project.

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I was really fired up when Cartwheel offered me the opportunity to work with this group of young people. Young tender Lions and Lionesses actually.

All of them natives of other lands, challenged by the very people they trust most to uproot, wave bye for an unknown period to dear friends, learn new routines, hold memories they never even knew they had closer than close and trade certainties for uncertainties.

I can not imagine the turmoil of trying to simultaneously learn a new; foreign language, learn and acclimatize to their new home and school environment, new customs, journeys and do’s and do not’s.

Kingsway Park definitely lives up to its alluring title.

There is just something – at first intangible – about this establishment that oozes, care, creativity, dexterity and resilience from the top down.

So off downwards deep and outwards myself and the effervescent Singer Songwriter and people polisher Claire Mooney – a bit like one of those grafters who come and try to rinse your car windscreen, requested or not. Whether you knew you need it or not Claire is gonna scrub and polish you up!

We were tasked with creating a song, some poems and a mini workin-progress-type performance for parents, carers, teachers and funders.

Using their loves, hopes, fears, interests and dreams as our palette: we found ways to leap over boundaries of alien vernacular and very swiftly got to our common spaces and worked outwards.

These ways were facilitated by the warmth, openness and eagle-eyed skillsets of Martha and her team, and included playing around with rhythm, playing a few word games to tease deeper meaning out of language and intent of the young people, coming up with a skeleton shape for a poem that they could all contribute towards in their own unique manners.

We then wrote and came up with first drafts by mid-week. And then dived even deeper into individual and collective rehearsals of our creations with some editing and soul searching mixed into the broth for measure and balance.

Come Friday the young people were all tired and a touch nervy, yet also charged with the shrill and frissons only adrenalin conjures.

One thing I learnt through the week amongst many was that Kingsway Park has a Boom Shaka Laka Kitchen so our guests trickled in, we all got

KINDNESS

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Hello, Hola, Salam, Buna Ajoy, Bala, Ola, Ciao Welcome!

How’s Life?

Let’s shake hands!

Kindness is a language everybody understands

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WELCOME! Bem vindo Kingsway Park, Salut Kingsway Park, Vitaje Kingsway Park Khosh amadid Kingsway Park Welcome… to… Kingsway… Park…

Lovely school holds my heart Fantastic school makes me smart Staff are caring, clever, kind Teach me things that blow my mind Welcome… to… Kingsway… Park…

These two songs were written by students at Kingsway Park High School in Rochdale and performed for parents and staff at an Open Afternoon.

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stuck in, chatted, grew into our roles and then after about twenty minutes the curtain went up.

The young Lions stepped up and really touched those who came to experience.

They showed that they are thriving in their new environment, feel as secure as one can in such circumstances and have rekindled their hunger to learn and grow in just the right spot.

Everyone completed their individual ‘I am’ style poems each of which gave some colour, laughter and insight into the vibrant worlds inside each of them. And as well as this, we as a group splashed up a little-big welcome song we penned, that we hope might become Kingsway Park’s official theme song.

Watch this space!

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With this issue of Scribble the current chapter of Tell Us Another One draws to a thrilling and breathtaking close. What we initially described as a ‘three year adventure in creative writing with diverse communities’ has now lasted for nearly ten years. Once again we have unfinished business and we will be looking for funds to script more great episodes. In the meantime some of the writing groups we have been supporting in the boroughs of Rochdale, Oldham and Bury have vowed to carry on regardless, and we will do our best to help them plot their independent course.

The current climate of austerity is not helpful. The threat of library closures across the country has been with us ever since the decision to bail out the banks at public expense and in view of the hammering which local authorities in Greater Manchester have taken, and continue to take,

Chris Jam is a Poet, educator and Radio & Club DJ. Chris also co-directs Wordsmith and promotes the Open Mic event Ode.

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perhaps it is a miracle that the damage has been limited. But the likelihood of sweeping closures in Bury now seems inevitable. Library services have been vital partners for Cartwheel throughout our 33 year history and particularly for Tell Us Another One, providing free meeting spaces, generous support from intensely community focused and experienced librarians, and also an important free conduit for delivery of this magazine throughout the region. This is a horror story and I wish I could foresee an alternative ending.

For now though I want to celebrate the success of the current ‘season’, to borrow a televisual term. We have enjoyed the guidance of three Project Co-ordinators in this epic period. Danny Fahey joined us in 2014, becoming the third Scribble editor, and delivering some brilliant projects. When he left in 2015 we were joined by Paul Stanley and Danielle Porter, who have shared the job, with Paul becoming the fourth editor of the magazine. It is fair to say that the change in style of the magazine from Danny to Paul could hardly have been more dramatic, but was generally well received.

What has not changed is the quality and variety of the content and the production values. We continue to provide a stylish platform for members of writing groups and for professional writers expressing themselves in an eclectic mixture of styles - and in a range of languages.

Elsewhere in this issue you will read about some of the imaginative and inspiring projects which Paul and Danielle have been running in the last year, many with a particular emphasis on the creative potential of the digital devices we take for granted. We persist in our passion for the printed page, but as we look to the next instalment of Tell Us Another One (spoiler alert) I think it will come as no surprise to discover digital devices and digitisation delivering dramatic developments.

Rick Walker is Director of Cartwheel Arts and has led the company since 2004, as well as organising major Cartwheel projects including festivals, environmental projects and youth arts programmes. His background is in design and print and his own work continues to be exhibited in major galleries, including the show marking the 300th anniversary of the Bluecoat Centre in Liverpool this year.

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Write on!

For nearly ten years Tell Us Another One has supported regular monthly writing groups, initially in Rochdale and then also in Oldham and Bury. We are about to go through one of our periodic funding intervals and not all the groups will continue meeting.

First Thursday 2pm – 4pm — Seedfield Writers Moorside Community Centre and Library Parkinson Street Bury BL9 6NY

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Second Monday 1pm – 3pm — Darnhill Writers Darnhill Library Argyle Parade Heywood OL10 3RY Third Thursday 2pm – 4pm — Langley Writers Demesne Community Centre Asby Close Middleton M24 4JF Langley Writers are an independent writing group, who deliver a range of writing and drama projects on social and health issues in addition to their regular monthly sessions.

Those that do are always looking for new people to join them. If in doubt please contact the Cartwheel office.

Third Friday 11am – 1pm — Dumers Lane Writers Dumers Lane Library 245 Dumers Lane Radcliffe M26 2GN Fourth Tuesday 2pm – 4pm — Fitton Hill Story Group Fitton Hill Library Fircroft Road Oldham OL8 2QD The Fitton Hill group will continue to meet until the summer after which it might be best to check with Cartwheel.

Fourth Wednesday 9am – 11am — Spotland Story Group Spotland Community Centre 92 – 96 Spotland Road Rochdale OL12 6PJ Spotland Story Group will also continue to meet until the summer.

They will take a break in June for Ramadan.

LGBT Writers The group has been meeting at Middleton Arena but may become more of a virtual group for the time being.

If you would like more information please contact lgbt@cartwheelarts.org.uk You can read the group’s brilliant booklet, Tonight I Will Become, here: cartwheelarts.org.uk/event/ tonight-i-will-become Deeplish Story Group The group is taking a break while we look for further funding.