Mother Earth

Created by: Collective Encounters Adult Theatre for Social Change Group

Our Mother is called Earth She is round Loves her greens Drinks plenty of water And is full of life. She is growing Every day she births new life into the world Humans mistreat her Neglecting the life she gives us She has beauty and true worth We take her for granted.

What practical things can you do to look after our beautiful world?

This poem was inspired by “Mother Under Threat” by Levi Tafari. To find out more about the University of Liverpool’s research into literature and the environment visit the project webpages at https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/english/community/soundjourney/

First Love Heartbreak - Remembering

Created by: Members of the Adult Theatre for Social Change Group

Penny Penny Bump bump bump bump/Penny Penny Bump bump bump bump/ January February March April May June July August/ January February March April /ring ring ring ring. Run Rabbit Run Rabbit/ heavy breathing Splish splash squelch smash. Splish splash squelch smash. Heartbeat bump bump bump bump /bump Heartbeat faster boom boom boom boom boom boom Tick tock Tick tock time passing. Tick tock, tick tock over and over and over First Love heartbreak.

When was the last time you told someone what you love about them?

This poem was inspired by “First Love” by Brian Patten. To find out more about Brian Patten, and his archive at the University of Liverpool visit: https://libguides.liverpool.ac.uk/library/sca/brianpatten

What Is Scouse?

Created by: Collective Encounters Adult Theatre for Social Change Group

I’m not religious, I’m not political. I’m not your stereotypical scouser, I’m just me. “What is Scouse?” Ask the Mouse. “It's where it's at,” said the Alley Cat. Scouse is the tradition, Slung deep within Liverpool’s core. We are a city that just likes to talk. Talk to another Scouser when you're away And it comes back thick and fast. It can be hard but fair, hard as a rock or soft as putty. A stranger hears “EEEEE” and “Lah” A brother hears home, support and unity.

Liverpool beacon Blue and Red divide us Humour unites us. The home of football The terraces with alleys. Stories of ages gone,

Our moon Sweet tune To be owned not alone Welcome home.

Many scars lay deep within Huge heart, soul spirit. Feelings of embarrassment, anger, hurt and shame, Remember the Sun headlines. Hillsborough - The Truth. Why does Liverpool exist? Then of course there's Thatcher, Liverpool must be destroyed. You failed. Unjust troubled times Many scars lay deep within. Stuck. Hillsborough The Truth.

Fighting for justice Pushing for our voices to be heard beyond the docks. Ah Liverpool, the city of magic. With such wonderful sights. Huge heart, soul spirit. Conflicted about being English But by God proud to be scouse.

An introvert in a city of extroverts Writing about experiences, Living through writing A typical scouser With the warmth of the city alive, The warmth that embodies me, and I smile. Homeless or living it up. We all bleed red.

The ASDA, Home and Bargain or TJ’s A sense of belonging, Where one is welcomed with smiles and open arms. Liverpool people, scousers Tough and funny, hearts of gold. Don’t do anything amiss or take the piss.

Our moon Sweet tune To be owned not alone Welcome home.

Do we invest in the future as well as remembering the past?

This poem was inspired by “Finding a Rhyme for Alphabet Soup: An Interview with Roger McGough” by Deryn Rees-Jones. To find out more about McGough, and his archive at the University of Liverpool visit: https://libguides.liverpool.ac.uk/library/sca/rogermcgough

To Bloom Is a Victory

Created by: Members of the Pakistani Centre Community Garden Group

Read by: Members of the Four Wings group

Natural – faithful, loving, enjoyable. I am a garden. I bloom because of and in the face of the people around me. To bloom is a victory. I reach out through railings to my community. These railings can’t contain me. I won’t let them be a barrier. Instead they have become part of me. I grow between the bars, my creepers climb up them and I grow in the baskets that are hanging off them. I connect with you through all senses. See my colours, feel my textures, hear my wildlife, taste my flavours.

Just like you I have survived many storms. I got messy, blown away and scattered. I embraced many cultures. We united co-creating the spirit of life from different places and different times. I am Roses from England. Jasmines from Pakistan, Sunflowers from the Ukraine and more. One of my Roses was brought here to grow because it wasn’t thriving. Look at her now. To bloom is a victory. The tiniest seed is something quite incredible.

You can bring here your seeds of doubt. Let them grow into an idea, leave them open to encouragement and watch them germinate, When storms arrive with the threat of destruction remember the Buddleia plant. She was brought over from a different continent to be an ornament in an English garden. You can see her purple flowers all over this city taking root in the cracks in brick walls. She is programmed for survival.

Is there a community garden near you? How might you get involved?

This poem was inspired by the article “Sweet Food to Sweet Crude: Haunting Place Through Planet” by Sam Solnick. If you would like to read a copy of the article please email sns@liverpool.ac.uk

Butterfly Kitchen

Created by: The Liverpool Arabic Women’s Group

Our view of the city is different from one person to another depending on where you have come from. Someone who came from an Arabic country or a country with war in it will see Liverpool as heaven. But, if someone came from another European country they will start comparing.

In Arabic (with translations) and English:

My life was better in Sweden but I had to leave because of racism towards my children. My children are the most important thing in life, I miss Sweden. I was there for 9 years, but I won’t go back.

Some people are forced to come because there is something bigger forcing them to leave their country.

Her Name is Roula, she is not sure what the meaning is, but it is like wise woman with good judgement. Her name is Ghenwa her name means something like self-sufficiency or self-dependence My name is Nour and it means Light or brightness. My baby son is here. His name is Ouwais – meaning one of the name of wolf.

Our view of the city is different from one person to another. Everyone of us has a story of the past and memories. It all depends where we came from, which country, which city and what you been through before in your life.

Were you happy or no. Some people were forced to come and to live a better life. Other people choose to come to study or to improve their situation in general.

If you come from Syria or Palestine it depends when you leave the country, I came before the war. All of my memories of home are happy I never thought of leaving the country. I never intended to stay away.

People were asking about life in Syria.

Do you have washing machines? Is this the first time you used a microwave? Are you educated? Do you have work? Do men control Everything?

I have a high education. I used to work in Syria and my house was spacious and beautiful, better than my house here. And yes I had a washing machine and a microwave. Actually nothing was missing from her house. I had a car since after high school I would drive to university, I would drive even between cities. We have the same freedom like women here have it, but what is different is the religion and the culture.

After the war the country became not safe to live so we had to leave it.

People will face difficulties because they need to start from scratch and there will be a difference in their economic status to start with.

We cannot judge people and their past unless we talk to them and listen to their stories.

Language is a barrier for a lot of people A barrier that will make you unable to express yourself and tell your stories It’s very difficult to feel that you are trapped in a new place. Everything is new You need to say everything. But you cannot because you don’t have the language You feel lonely.

You feel trapped like a butterfly in a chrysalis. All the people look at you as different You are waiting for a chance to fly To be able to communicate to show the traditions and stories that make your life colourful.

Sharing food is one of the ways that we express ourself When we share our food we can express more about ourself about our religion and culture. Get to know people Share our stories with people without saying it in words Using our native local ingredients and having it combined with European ingredients.

We cook some dishes with love and share it between our friends and neighbours. Some people are afraid to ask some personal questions like Why do you wear hijab? What food you can eat and what is not permitted? When we share food we open a place for discussion so people can talk to us and ask us what they want to know?

We looked at Benjamin Zephaniah, the British poet. he says “leave the ingredients to simmer. As they mix and blend allow their languages to flourish…….. Add some unity, understanding and respect for the future.”

Last year I organised international food day at the university. Each student shared a dish and wrote its ingredients, and shared part of their tradition and culture and even their own traditional dress.

Sharing food is part of the community cohesion we share food in our special occasions like Eid celebration, or having a new baby

We convinced the school that there was some minority in the school and that there will be a celebration for Eid and that mostly in celebration we will gather for food and does anyone want to come with us? Around 35 students came and we had a big table with lots of vegetarian food. It was nice. Many of them were from the UK.

Also, we make charity dishes to sell the food to support the needy people. There have been charity food events for wars in Gaza Palestine, the Yemen, Syria. , and for Morocco for the earthquake and Turkey and for Libya,

When we stand here at the bombed out church we see a lot of restaurants. Each restaurant reflects a country and its culture. There is also a lot of community activity in this place to support refugees, homeless people and people affected by wars.

What is the origin of your favourite cuisine? How do you find ways to come together with your community?

To find out more about Liverpool’s research into migration, literature and culture visit the project pages at https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/english/community/soundjourney/

10 Cliches

Created by: Collective Encounters Adult Theatre for Social Change group

10 Clichés related to Liverpool.

1) We live near the Cop, and we can’t park our car. 2) Lonely swings on the skyline. Sad kids without a future. 3) The Magical Mystery tour, there goes the bus again down to Forthlan Road, everyone there is sick of the sight of it. 4) The Philharmonic pub. Roll up, roll up and see the gents’ loos. 5) The Philharmonic hall, a glorious orchestra, a choir of angels but behind the scenes the angels bitch at each other, just like anyone else. 6) Come to Eurovision and prepare to be fleeced by your hotel, you’ll wish you’d gone to India instead. 7) Ferry across the Mersey soon it will be a river, a river of filth. God bless United Utilities. 8) The Three Graces, the Albert Dock, get too greedy and lose your World Heritage status. 9) Who would've thought back in the 60s The Beatles would put us back on the map with a vengeance? 10) City of starting points, slave ships, migrants, immigrants, the cotton trade, all an unholy swirl of mess, full of affluence.

What stories are connected to where you are from?

This piece was inspired by “Great War Poems” by Adrian Henri. To find out more about Henri, and his archive at the University of Liverpool visit: https://libguides.liverpool.ac.uk/library/sca/adrianhenri

Liverpool Sounds

Created by: Members of the Give Poetry a Chance Group

The rhythm of Liverpool sounds Brings a smile to my face. Eeeeee, a deafening screech coming from a teenage girl Gizza kiss, a mother leaves her son at the school gates Lad those, 110s look sic

“Roll up roll up for the magical mystery tour” I hear music through the streets And Seagull calls through the skies Swooping over waves from Irish shores Cranes on the Docks toil in hammer and clatter Friendly chatter, humour and laughter

Some say if you close your eyes near Queen’s square You can still hear “Buy an Echo’’ in the city air

These are the sounds of my home.

Here at our house We welcome you with open arms Treat you with kindness As if we’ve known you for years

We want you to enjoy your stay And we’re glad you have chosen us

Please talk about us with respect While you are here and after you have left.

Retire the lazy old jokes Don’t ridicule us with spiteful prejudice.

Would you treat your mother this way? A way that disrespects, rejects.

Would you treat your children this way? A way that lacks gentleness and compassion.

What if I treat you like the villain And tell you to behave?

My home is not Bread or Enfield or Brookside Close I’ll make you a cuppa and show you around But don’t make fun of the way I sound.

Tell me where you’re from and I’ll listen I have a love of stories And want to know what I’m missing.

We’ll be your Liverpool mums, dads and mates From the North end to the South end I’ll drive you around the bend With knowledge, history and music.

Were big on rights and big on strikes No matter how big or small the fight We’ll rise against injustice We’ll wave your flag and carry your banner But at the end of the day do you have our backs ? Would you carry mine if I asked?

What stereotypes about you would you like to challenge?

To find out more about the University of Liverpool’s research into they city’s literature and culture visit our project webpages at https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/english/community/soundjourney/

Education

Created and read by: members of the Collective Encounters Adult Theatre for Social Change group

Education Nightmare memories Awful cold school dinners Control, rules. Fighting, non-conforming. Structure. Brainwashed. State of the nation. When will it change?

Each morning I put on my mask to go to school. They say I'm here to learn. That it will shape my future.

Father was a great reader, mother a great writer, she had a fierce intelligence but did all she could to hide it.

I was bottom of the class at school, if I had, had a teacher that believed in me, where would I be? What would I have become?

Education Frustrating, worrying, challenging. Pressure. scary, satisfying. Understanding, realising, growing. Playing, exploring. Learning. I started after leaving school.

Evolving.
Enlightening

Stop trying to fit us all into the same box.

Some of us are explorers.

If I have an idea, I have to express it, my brain feeds on ideas, if it's not feeding it's starving and starvation as you know leads to death.

Here in this group, I found myself. Art is no longer a solitary pursuit. It multiplies when shared.

We stand on our own unaware of the power we collectively hold.

I don't want to be devoid of ideas, creating is ideas.

I remember the late 60s with the Merseybeat poets I used to read their poems at school. I recited a poem of Adrian Henri’s, and my friend accompanied me on the guitar.

I looked at Merseybeat books, it was my generation.

I went to performing arts college and I knew I belonged, I found myself mixing with all kinds of different people from different backgrounds, religions, ethnicities, sexuality.

I'm an artist, creativity is in my core, whatever I create is my own work of art, whether it's writing, making jewellery, crafting with my daughter.

There was a competition to write a play, my play was chosen, I was so proud.

I was bottom of the class before I learned to read, not very bright, I finally mastered reading and I've never looked back.

Since then, I've loved the theatre and arts, my children have performed, I've passed my love of it onto them.

I love opera, I love ballet, I love colours, I love the stage. I will use my art to protest, I want change and I want to be part of that change.

Learning. Lifelong. Experiencing, failing, retrying. Open to new ideas. Growing.

I can do anything and reach new heights now.

Frustrating, worrying, challenging.

I can do anything can reach new heights now. Playing, Exploring. Learning. I can do anything can reach new heights now.

Creativity Ideas. Connecting

Changing footsteps. Different paths in life.

You can go in any direction you want when you have an interest that is driving you have a love and passion for it.

Would you like to continue your learning journey? If so, what’s your next step?

If you would like to find out more about continuing education courses at the University of Liverpool, including those in English and Creative Arts, visit https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/continuing-education/

Where You’re At

Created by: The Where You're At Group

Have you ever wondered where words come from and who makes up language? Language is ancient and dynamic, it continues to transform. Sometimes words and phrases that are used in ways that are not literal. When different languages and dialects collide, the way that we play with language is highlighted. Language becomes a symbol of culture.

What words, sayings or expressions are unique to your community or family?

To learn more about the University of Liverpool’s research into language and dialect visit https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/english/research/clusters-centres/Sociolinguistics-and-Multilingualism/