An Inside View From a Locked-Down Land
Read2Write Community Group and Doncaster Care Homes
On the 15th of May 2021 we released a poetry anthology ‘A View From a Locked-Down Land’, which was created by the Read2Write Community group in Mexborough and Balby. You can read the full poetry anthology here.
As the creation of this anthology was part of a community art exchange ‘The Culture Co-operative’, the printed anthology was delivered to Care Homes across Doncaster along with questions, to give the residents an opportunity to engage with the poems and reply with their thoughts.
Their written thoughts would then be passed along to our poets at Read2Write for them to write beautiful poetry inspired by the Care Home residents words.
We are now so pleased to share ‘An Inside View From a Locked-Down Land’, our second poetry anthology book, featuring the collaboration of our fantastic Poets at Read2Write and the wonderful residents of the Care Homes across Doncaster.
An Inside View From A Locked-Down Land
A Poetic dialogue between Doncaster’s Read2Write poetry group and the residents of Doncaster’s Care Homes.
“This collection is dedicated in gratitude to care workers everywhere.”
Excepts from the Anthology
New Light
Leanne G & Paul Iwanyckyj
As simple things we took for granted return.
Family, friends, hugs, holding hands, sharing time and places with others.
Let us rejoice in them with renewed illumination, see them as fresh, precious.
Not take for granted these simplest gifts in life.
THE SEA
Stephanie Buck & Sharon Granville
From the very first time it will hold you for it has cast you in its magical spell
once you have seen it, never forgotten this boundless sea that none can quell, the rising and falling eaves breaking on the shore, the shifting sand beneath your feet, while overhead the seagulls fly and the far horizon merges with the sea,
the wind in your hair , nowhere can compare and as you turn to take your leave remember the sea’s embrace will call again to thee.
Cedars Care Home | Photographed by Rasha Kotaiche.
Following the printing of the anthology, Mick Jenkinson has been touring the Care Homes across Doncaster, performing songs and reading the poetry aloud to the residents.
Quarryfields Care Home | Photographed by Rasha Kotaiche.
A Big Thank you to…
The members of the Read2Write poetry group for giving their time so generously to engage with this project.
The residents of: MHA Sandygate - Residential & Dementia Care Home, With Upon Dearne, MHA Swallow Wood - Nursing Care Home, Mexborough, The Cedars Care Home, Balby, Quarryfields Complex Needs Care Home - Exemplar Health Care, Balby, The Beeches Care Home, Armthorpe and the Monday Smile a While group in Thorne, all who responded with such creative energy to our ideas and suggestions.
Given the Covid restrictions we were required to work under, special thanks must go to the care home workers who facilitated the distribution of the writing exercises, liaison with the residents and the collection of the completed material.