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WORDSMITH David Hollywood is inspiring a new generation of poets to put pen to prose with a series of pro-active workshops to ensure the art is not lost.
The chairman of The Second Circle Poetry Group and director of popular The Colours of Life Poetry Festival will be continuing with his mission after the summer holidays and hopes to extend the project to all schools in the kingdom and stage a festival to celebrate children’s poetic prowess.
He said: “My impetuous desire for wanting to provide poetry workshops for children relates to the ‘near fact’ that no one reads poetry anymore, and as I perceive the genre to be the highest form of communication available for insightful and emotional perceptions I am saddened to witness the demise of it.
“Consequently I determined that if it is to be rescued then we need to go back to the beginning in terms of its influence and consequently encourage youngsters in the course of their dynamism and impatient energy to get a grip of a neglected yet vigorous, exploratory and thoughtful language that provides a form of communication which enthrals yet hides messages through its imagery and unusual descriptive powers.
“Therefore, and in order to appreciate poetry, the reader has to apply abnormal forms of comprehension and as a result this might be attractive to young investigative minds once they are more enthusiastically exposed to it.”
With this in mind he has been running poetry workshops in which every participant is required to stand, deliver, potentially enact and entertain the listeners through a performance featuring established poems before quickly moving on to reciting their own work.
“We reach varying stages of confidence and growing enthusiasm as participants realise they are being supported and appreciated by the rest of those in attendance until eventually it is almost a drama through poetry,” he explained. “This requires everyone to become mentally energetic and analytical in their responses to what they have heard and, equally, it is great fun for all involved.”
Mr Hollywood started with some opening poetry presentations at St Christopher’s School and The British School of Bahrain and followed this up with further workshops.
He said: “I would like to extend the programme to all schools in Bahrain, in both Arabic and English, in the same way that I direct The Colours of Life Poetry Festival for adults.
“If I can enthuse sufficient energy into the creations of school children then my hope is poetry will continue to reveal its marvels throughout their lives’ and carry on being appreciated while also saved from its present state of decay.
“Within the magic of poetic formula is a message that is far more powerful than ordinary prose and this is because each word carries far more weight and meaning beyond anything that is obvious in its occurrence.”
As Samuel Coleridge said: “Prose = words in their best order; Poetry = the best words in their best order”, and if this is true then poetry becomes as important as prayer and philosophy and therefore opens us up to becoming better people.
“All we need to do is read one poem a day and the world would quickly become a far better place. That’s why I want to rescue it through a young generation and look forward to lots more activity with various schools in the autumn, and this might well include a festival for and of children.”
One of the children to benefit from the workshops is British schoolboy Yameen Rahman, who has turned into a prolific young poet.
Yameen, 10, attends St Christopher’s School and lives in Saar with his parents, Ehsan, a contracts manager, mum Jenny, and five-year-old sister, Safiya. “I have written many short stories and poems. One of my greatest intentions is to publish a short book that I’m planning to work on. Also, one of my greatest short-term goals is to get my 50 poems published!” he said. “In my experience, writing poetry has enabled me to express my feelings and imagination in a succinct and captivating manner.”
His work has impressed Mr Hollywood, who described him as ‘intellectually mature beyond his years while always remaining a young boy searching his surroundings for things to explain’. “It was wonderful to share his enthusiasm and insights through his structural approach to poetry,” he added.
Here is a sample of Yameen’s poetry:
The Camel
By Yameen Subhan Rahman, aged 10
There amongst the sand dunes of gold,
Where the deepest of footprints seem to move over time,
A boiling, hot sun that smiles upon earth with no worry at all,
In the excruciating sunlight, a camel standing tall.
Farewell, the camel said, it is time to leave the desert,
Goodbye my sun that gave me sweat
And the sand storms that sent morsels of sand through my very eyes…
However my friends, Khan the Great… I hear his cries”
There amongst the green of forests,
Where the fragrance of animals disseminate in quick,
And the wise camel continues his journey, but for the pain and crick,
His feet eventually grew tired with the sharp twigs and sticks.
Farewell, the camel said, it is time to leave the forest,
Goodbye my fellow trees that gave me shelter, and the flies that lived upon my very eyes,
However my friends, Khan the Great, I hear his cries.
There amongst the black of mountains, fear and trepidation heighten my doubts,
As the scary wolves howl and shout,
The wise camel journeying through Bahrain,
Passing tempests of wind, and the gibes of rain.
Farewell, the camel said, it is time to leave the mountains,
Goodbye my stone that let me walk and the dust that concealed my very eyes
However my friends, Khan the Great, I hear his cries.
