Spoken Word - Filming

I've just come back from spending the day filming two spoken word poems in a local park and lake area to represent the seasons 'Summer' and 'Autumn'. This was to reflect two of the seasons that we may experience in our life of faith as we go through our lives and will be used to accompany a sermon series at church which will be delivered in the next few months. It was an interesting experience from the visual techniques used to memorise the words, to an appreciation of the stages involved with filming and editing a video as I watched my colleague in this creative project at work. Delivery of the poems was achieved when both sitting and walking, which was also a great experience to test the effectiveness of both the preparation process ahead of the day and the memory techniques used. Interestingly, this has put to rest a long lived insecurity that I had from my days in a public speaking club, where I lost my words halfway through a five minute speech and had to check my notes. Admittedly, the length of the speech back then was longer than the poems I read for these videos, but the distractions of the outside environment, along with the forward motion whilst walking, were satisfying challenges to overcome. It's been a good day.

Retreat into Nature & #treetuesday

I recently visited Michelham Priory and its gardens. I haven't managed to go on a quiet retreat this year. So this provided a short but welcome chance to let my thoughts wander.

Silver Droplet

Silver droplet twinkling in the sun,

Your life only just begun

Lest the sun and its hot rays

End your days.

Yet you shine with all your might

In this glistering light,

Faithful to nature’s ways.

(Michelham Priory Gardens 03/08/12)

(Copyright EH 2012. All Rights Reserved)

I also note that on Twitter it's #treetuesday today! Unfortunately I am too tired and it's almost too late (23:49) to join in. However, here is a tree poem for the sake of being thematic:

There’s an Old Tree

There’s an old tree

Reaching towards me.

Its branches are strong,

Its reach is long,

But there’s a gap between it and me.

For it is I that needs to be

Walking more closely

To its girth,

To its range of earth

That I spy so wondrously

Spread.

One would think it be dead,

But the arms that are reaching for me

Do so so gently and lovingly,

It’s like it knew I was there.

With a branch to spare

For me.

(Michelham Priory Gardens 03/08/12)
(Copyright EH 2012. All Rights Reserved)

A New Beginning

I cannot express how much I have valued and appreciated the last week that I spent at the Penhurst Retreat Centre in Battle, East Sussex. Such a beautiful and peaceful place where you can escape from the world and REST. I met some wonderful people too. Lots of love to you all in your new beginnings! Thank you also to Richard and Storm, and all the other staff at Penhurst Retreat Centre.

Well hello Mr Bee!
(Or another of He)
How honoured am I
To see you buzz by
Doing your daily rounds.

I don’t know why you are here,
There are no flowers near.
Oh but look, there is just one - no two!
Ah ha! A whole field for you!
So in fact your wisdom is sound.

(Penhurst Retreat Centre Orchard
13 Apr 2011)

(Copyright EH 2011.
All Rights Reserved)


The retreat entitled "A New Beginning" was led by Jen Rees Larcombe, author of the book "A Year's Journey With God" and many others.

Book Week 2009

Book Week 2009 at the school where I work was once again alive with book character dressing up days, favourite book videos and an air of enjoyment by teachers and pupils alike. I dared to take part in the poetry readings meeting, albeit sticking to a relatively "safe" poem - no pupil likes to see a teacher cry after all!


The Peace of 6 a.m. on a Sunday

The peace of 6 a.m. on a Sunday.
A bird is singing in the trees.
It’s his wake up call to one and all,
He says “Join me if you please”

Join me in this new day,
But there is no work to be done,
Because Sunday’s here, it’s a day to revere
Let’s praise the Lord it’s come.

I shall sing here from the tree tops,
I shall sing here all day long.
For I love the peace of a Sunday,
But it’s the morning that fuels my song

It’s at 6 a.m. on a Sunday
That I choose to start my song.
The rest of the day other sounds start to play
So in the peace is where I belong.

My song sings out in the silence,
For nothing else do I hear.
Wake up now, it’s time to get up
With my song I draw you near.

Wake up from your sleepy slumber.
Cast the dreams aside for reality,
But if you cannot yet bear to be aware
Then relax and listen to me.

The peace of 6 a.m. on a Sunday,
There’s a shrill sound in the trees.
I thank the Lord for putting him there,
The bird wakes me up with ease.

I turn over under my duvet,
I curl up in a ball.
There’s a warmth in there from which I choose not to tear,
But I thank God for that bird so small.

Copyright EH 2008. All Rights reserved.