Poems are a moving reflection on 2020
December 4, 2020
Poignant poems have been penned about the South Downs following a project that sees small groups gain inspiration from their walks.
Kate Drake, Health and Wellbeing Officer, has been working with Worthing-based Creative Waves this autumn and winter on a project called “Exploring the South Downs: wellbeing and the arts”.
Kate explained: “The premise of the project is to take small groups of six up on to the Downs and do a three to four mile walk in various spots. The destination is defined by using the App What3Words and sometimes these words inspire the creativity.
“The group walk and talk and support each other for about two hours and use this time to reflect on the landscape to then come back and be creative. The end product will be an exhibition on the panels on Worthing Pier in spring 2021.”
Kate added: “I have been on one and it really was so humbling hearing people’s stories. One woman I spoke to had not been out since March and this was her first visit outside. These participants have had some real struggles and this project has been a sprinkling of hope for them.”
Here are two of the poems from the participants:
“Up, down and across the South Downs”
My feet are on the ground, but my head is not in the clouds
My feet are on the ground, distanced from others as we journey as through this weird and challenging time and space of Covid and lockdown
We uphold the rules of: hands.face.space as we don’t greet each other with a hug, we don’t have more than six together in a group as we walked up down and across the South Downs
We have experienced the season changes, encountered: sunshine, rain, warmth or winds chilly or fresh
Our feet have trod on paths, grass, climbed hills, crossed green pastures, as we walk the South Downs
Our eyes have seen trees with leaves, without them, with acorns, conkers, fur cones and more, as we have walked the South Downs
Our noses and ears have smelt the surrounding nature, heard natures chatter and the chatter of others as we walk the South Downs
As we walk we share, we listen to each other’s stories, our ups our downs, our lower than downs, as we walk the South Downs
We share how Covid and lockdown has negatively impacted on friends, family on us and what we do, how we feel, how we think about now and the future, as we walk the South Downs
We share how Covid and lockdown may have given us time and space to do things we otherwise might not have got round to, as we walk the South Downs
As I have travel I feel nurtured by the kindness of my fellow walkers and being out in nature on the South Downs
We have paused on occasion to listen, look and share a laugh or watch the dogs enjoy the South Downs
We have paused on occasion to catch our breath, take in the view, have a drink, take a picture of the South Downs
I thank you my fellow walkers, I thank you nature for your nurture and I thank you the South Downs for being there, so I can go up and down and across the South Downs.
My Escape Room (by Victoria Aspin)
Your majestic beauty, your sweeping land our Sussex treasure that’s been my best friend
Your stunning beauty and elegant lines, forever standing the test of time. Every ray of sun and shadow of cloud you keep us guessing what’s next in line, you amaze and intrigue yet I know you’re not just mine
The carefree moment to drink in the calm, I feel like I’m in nature’s palm. To pause from the COVID you make me slow down, take a breath, make a smile uplifting my frown
The peace you allow is good for the soul. I chatter to angels and pray for those ill. Your medicine is potent, a good pill to swallow, it’s life’s natural detox, one we should all follow
I’m thankful to you for sharing your beauty, for letting us forget, for a moment, our COVID duty
Don’t change, don’t alter, don’t disappear, when this bug is busted you’ll still be here, so we’ll stand by you and remember back, to the year 2020, the year of the bug, the year that felt like we’d pulled the plug!
Main feature image by Stewart Garside