Grwpiau

Good gathering last night - on tables covered in maps, books and university dissertations (on geophysics) and with Britain from Above's aerial photographs projected onto the screen, we had a first look at how a creative writer might approach making a response to such source material. Participants shared their experiences of particular buildings - obvious already that schools are a rich thread in memory and emotion. We were fortunate in having the expertise of Lorna Sharpe (with her background in geophysics) to run through the many ways of reading the layers beneath surfaces on such photographs. We took a brief look at some examples of the poetry of place - free verse, haiku, prose poem, rhymed verse and a modern sonnet - to show just a few of the ways a writer might respond. Individual visits to Annan town, museum and library are planned, with cameras and notebooks. The writing commences already - this from last night, by Elaine Erskine



'The dull coins from a good days graft in the tannery were heaven spent in the Bell and with belly full, the goose-man wedged into the river bank sketches the perfect snap shot of a skein of geese nosing toward the wetlands. There can be no better reward for his journey had just began, he was never a boy and at sixteen with hands and eyes of a man, he slept in his mothers arms, for without her guidance he would not have survived and from the grave Wilhelmina's strength was the love by his side'



Next meeting is on Tuesday 12th August at the Powfoot Golf Hotel from 7.00 - 9.00 pm - anyone interested in participating is welcome to come. Contact : vivien@freeola.com for more details of the project and how you can become involved.

We are just about to start our 'Borders' project on the Solway Firth - our chosen area is the town of Annan and yesterday saw a gathering of poets and prose writers, historians, experts on aerial photography and people with a local interest. Just four slides produced four illuminating mini-lectures from four local historians which indicates the creative potential of such source material. Our aim is to produce a printed book by September as our part of the project.

Just for interest the photograph was taken at the Great Dorset Steam Fair. Perhaps someone will know the details of the engine in the frame. Class31