Learning by Heart: Teachings to Free the Creative Spirit

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Bringing their own unique and counter-balanced personalities to proceedings they ask questions such as: what is happiness?

Children and young people are invited to choose poems they love, to learn them by heart and perform them in a school performance event.

Books are sometimes published claiming that poetry can “change your life,” which is probably an exaggeration. I would like to begin by offering my personal congratulations to the graduates and to the families and friends here today. I also often come across phrases or figures of speech, in my reading, which I find beautiful and would very much like to commit to memory; but I know only too well how inevitable it is that, no matter how many times I repeat the phrase out loud to myself, I will have forgotten it within a day.

It is always fun to talk to her because there is such excitement in her voice about each new discovery—be it about our church or a country’s history or the local culture. For Arthur Dent, who has only just had his house demolished that morning, this seems already to be more than he can cope with. I wish the photographs were in color, but black and white are enough to incite you to your own creative force. For me, even one of her "assignments" triggered two months or more of intensive artmaking, and I'll borrow and steal from her much more in years to come.

In fact, speaking a poem with others demands cooperation, trust and coordination – and to do it well involves breathing together, being in the moment together and becoming part of something beyond yourself. It was through this programme that I really began to appreciate the difference that can be made to a child simply by talking to them and listening to their opinions. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle. I felt, as it explains in Proverbs, that “the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding” and “wisdom entereth into thine heart” (Proverbs 2:6,10). Of course I didn't know a thing about her before I read about her work as an artist and educator, but she was massively influential to all who came in contact with her.