Call to Action
We had a wonderful day at the Women Friendly Leeds event at Civic Hall, celebrating Women Friendly Leeds: Women Together.
It was a call to action—honouring and remembering the great women of Leeds and their contributions, while also discussing and reviewing women’s safety in the city. The event was filled with fantastic organizations, including RJC, Getaway Girls, and Leeds University, to name just a few.
As part of the event, the collective participated in a writing session inspired by the theme "Sister Shine." Everyone contributed to this collaboration commissioned piece, and when given the opportunity to perform, we treat it as a paid commission. This approach has been incredibly effective, providing both experience and confidence to all involved.
What was especially lovely about the writing sessions was the allyship and support from the men in our collective. Below is Stephen’s poem, which he has set to music.
We also shared our work with women friendly Leeds, to be displayed on their website!
There's a lot to be said about being a woman.
The accidental poet.
Sister shine commission pieces
In Our Palms
In our palms lie the lines
Of sun and heart
Head and health
Life and fate
Global matters of a revolving Earth
Each has its own design
Some deep, some short
Some glowing fathomless ocean blue
Through our skin
Some crest the hills
Surrounding our thumbs
Rising up reflecting the sun
Others track an uneven wilderness path
Break and wander
Destiny shrouded unclear
Karma unknown, future uncertain
Bespeckled, crinkled they show the years
The wearing of living life
Care needed for damage repair
In our palms lie the lines
The whole world etched in our hands
Earth’s final fortune dependant on us
In partnership, acting as one.
So shine sisters shine
Let’s determine our own fortune
And save our planet together.
© Copyright Berni Mudie
I Stood Up
So many years of biting my tongue
Especially when my children were young
Family members making a racist joke
But it’s deemed ok ‘cos they are my folk
And as yet, none of them are ‘woke’
Kids all grown now an finding their way
World media highlighting racism every day
The hurt they are feeling is shown through tears
The trauma bristling from generational years
Some family members lacking empathy or kindness
Make derogatory comments though ignorance and blindness
Cut from our lives, left out in the cold
I stand for my harmonies they are my world!
© Copyright - Averil MacGillivray, Gift ‘o’ the Gab - 13.11.24
You Inspire Me
You inspire me
It’s been 3 years
And 5 moons
Yet I keep hearing stories
About how you stood for and by others
Your generosity and humble pride
Inspires me daily
You inspire me
The way you fought
Even when they said
There was no point
In you living
You inspire me
The way you understood
Very early in your life
About needing boundaries
To be your best self
It was only 5 years
But what you taught me
Will last generations
You inspire me baby
Even in death
@NjaayyourStoryTellingPoet
15/01/2025
