To borrow from the Good Book, “In the beginning was the Word.”
Words give sense to things, though we may still be “the voice of one crying in the wilderness.”
In the spirit of meaningful words, next month WICE is offering a poetry “Craft and Inspiration” workshop (six Thursday afternoons) led by David Barnes.
Originally from Oxfordshire, he's been involved in the Paris writing scene for 15 years. He says, “The workshop will focus on how to generate material, and craft it into strong poems, drawing inspiration from the groups’ own favorite works of poetry.”
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| David Barnes of WICE, who loves spoken word poetry |
Originally from Oxfordshire, he's been involved in the Paris writing scene for 15 years. He says, “The workshop will focus on how to generate material, and craft it into strong poems, drawing inspiration from the groups’ own favorite works of poetry.”
Letting the words speak for themselves -
here's a sample from David’s poem, tidal:
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| "...his thick forearms make their strokes..." |
Though he has not moved from his chair and a moment only has passed,
this swimmer, once the third in France
seeks his refuge from the memory of his father that moves across his face,
turns aside his large, grey head
as he says to himself the words his father said,
‘Pour qui tu te prends?’
He rubs his unused hands on his thighs
up and down, as if to smear on grease.
but then his thick forearms make their strokes
and he returns from submergence far out,
rolls back in,
his voice loud with deep, French vowels
‘Pour moi,’ he says. ‘Pour moi. Je me prends pour moi.’
David began writing with workshops at Shakespeare and Company, and later taught short story and poetry writing at WICE. He also started Spoken Word Paris, described on its website as a “pole of a nomadic tribe of people who love poetry, writing and song. A home for creatives and lost anglophones. We do an open mic night called SpokenWord every Monday at Au Chat Noir…”
Among David’s recent WICE students Denise Mirat Here’s part of her poem, Other:
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| "When's I going' home?" |
No more sleeping with Grandma,
Quilts piled high on a feather bed
Quilts piled high on a feather bed
No climbing on a chair to help her.
No brown sugar on butter-bread.
No jumping up on the couch
To shout into the phone
Mamma, when you gonna come git me?
When’s I goin’ home?
David prefers spoken to written poetry, because, “the human voice adds something so powerful and of the person.” He’s not as interested in slam poetry, because “that’s too formulaic. Slam poetry tends toward funny or social justice subjects designed to appeal to judges in the audience. Our workshops are for all subjects from people of all ages, levels and backgrounds. Everybody can feel safe sharing any kind of work, while getting feedback if they want it.”
So, that’s not the final word!
Post by Elizabeth Bouché
For more information on the poetry workshop and all other WICE activities, check out our website, and look out for the Paris Writers Workshop this spring too.
https://www.wice-paris.org/event-2754592 (Poetry Craft and Inspiration Workshop)
https://spokenwordparis.org/
www.wice-paris.org
WICE Office
10 rue Tiphaine
75015 Paris
10 rue Tiphaine
75015 Paris
Monday to Friday 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Telephone
01 45 66 7550
01 45 66 7550