Transforming Spoken Words in our Workshop into poetry – by Alison Phipps
Found in Room 611
“They are new to language”
she said,
“Art” (forgive the pun)
is a big draw”
They have experienced trauma.
They are permanently excluded
Art shows us what is going on.
Her mother was a fashion designer
So all the textile teachers know.
It’s about sharing.
There was 1 black person
Then 2.
I am here to absorb.
I’m teaching English.
Step up to English
with many new arrivals
Let’s be informed by their stories
Do you mind if I paint my hand?
He painted his whole arm
And rolled it out on the paper
Do you mind if I paint my face?
He did it.
He rolled it out on the paper
greens, blues, reds.
The Cotham language of the day is Czech
Dubla Rahlo
Dubla rahlo
“Be we haven’t done all the languages!”
And we are bringing dishes from around the world
What do you bring from your own cultures?
I MADE FILMS.
I DELETED THEM ALL
I DELETED THEM ALL.
I manage to work with children
Occasionally.
Their schooling has been
severely interrupted.
I loved the suitcases.
So much language.
They don’t like to talk
they draw pictures:
a helicopter
sleeping in bed
guns.
Then the earthquake
How the family perished
except his father.
It’s about them
What do they want to put in their suitcases?
What do the children see?
in the school environment.
Is my language here?
Is my family here?
Do you mind if I paint my hand?
Do you mind if I paint my face?
Date: Wednesday, 2nd May 2018
Room: 2S611 Frenchay Campus