Pitch Black

Pitch Black

“Först var det mörkt, men nu är det bäcksvart”

“At first it was dark but now it’s pitch black”

Having worked with the Young Writers Lab group Sagolandet in Holavedsgymnasiet, Tranås for the last year, it was an honour for me to witness the group’s work come alive and performed on stage. Two school aesthetic studies programmes, from Tranås and Gislaved in the Jönköping region were invited to respond to a study into young people's mental health. . Focussed on the experiences of 8th grade and 2nd year high school students the research was curious about relationships with family and friends, social and psychological safety, sleep and exercise patterns, and alcohol and drug use.

As a writer, I supported the young people in Holavedsgymnasiet to create poetry to weave into their production that addressed the research findings. Taking the collection of Tranås poet, Joakim Becker, “I sällskapsrummet på en psykiatrisk klinik” and Colm Ó Ciarnáin’s translations “when the barbed wire slipped in” the group shared their own stories of feeling down, sad and depressed. They then wrote their own poems, script and song lyrics. A special part of our creative process was when Joakim visited the group to share his work and approach to writing.

“ I fear that the "love" that you're giving me is only going to tear my heart in two.

But at the same time

I’m longing for your love.

Like a harpoon I want to pierce my heart and make me feel both pain and desire.

I want to feel the veins fill up with the drug you're injecting into me

But deep down

I know that the only thing you give me is sorrow”

Iza Knutsson.

Sagolandet’s production explored communication in relationships, the inner voice we all have that often tries to undermine us, and misplaced adult concern. The scene which particularly moved me was when the girl, played by Mathilda Johannson, was taken by her parents for psychiatric assessment, as each time she tried to speak for herself she was dismissed by adults.

Given the extensive nature of poor mental health in the population the students strongly believe that we need to discuss it more openly to erase the taboo, and members of the cast recall being in tears as they performed the powerful stories. The audience were visibly moved, and a deep, thoughtful silence hung over the space as the performance ended. As one parent said.“ni satte huvudet på spiken! you nailed it, spot on!”

The group felt a strong bond from developing this work together, and especially through the intimate medium of poetry. In terms of writing and being enthused to continue the students valued Joakim’s visit. “He told us not to worry if we had a block, or felt that a piece was not good enough” said Evelina Fransson, “Just put it aside for a while, and come back to it. ”

“Jag har äntligen kommit till slutet av denna mörka tunnel och det ende som krävs är ett steg till in i ljuset”.

“I have finally come to the end of this dark tunnel and the only thing that is needed is one more step into the light”

Evelina Fransson

Photos: Milou Areland and Colm Ó Ciarnáin

Poetry for well being

Mel Perry is continuing to work with students on the estestisk program in Holavedsgymnasiet, Tranås. The group, who call themselves Sagolandet, is preparing for a multimedia production about young people’s mental health. Through drama, dance, music, song and poetry the students will explore the key findings of recent research into young people’s experiences of mental ill health and services to support them. The production will be performed in May 2019 in Tranås and Gislaved. Mel has encouraged the group to write their own individual poems and a collaborative piece.

In January Sagolandet enjoyed meeting local poet Joakim Becker, whose collection “I sällskapsrummet på en psykiatrisk klinik” is inspiring some of the pupils’ poems. Copies of Colm Ó Ciarnáin’s translations of Becker poems “when the barbed wire slipped in” were given to the students. The group were able to discuss different aspects of writing poetry with Joakim, hear him read his work, and share their Swedish and English poetry. It was a pleasure to see the group visibly moved and amused by Joakim’s brief, and powerful poems.

Mel’s poetry sessions are also inspiring the ideas for the dance, drama, and music components of the production.

Collaborative poem written in response to

“Vill du ha en andra?” in translation “Do you want a second?”

“Create a new picture,

a puzzle moving around the bricks.

Deep down in your heart you know that too-

-stars are dreams.

I see you brightening up the night sky,

wishing on a star.

No matter what happens it’s gonna be OK

for the sky is never ending,

endless heaven

I moved you, and I know that you moved me,

nailed to the sky with a hole hammered through my heart,

searching for you in the dark cloud

I lost some dreams

searching for you in the dark cloud.

Love is no more

for the sky is never ending.

Why are you talking to them and not me?

I moved you, and I know that you moved me.

Afraidness, scaring and loneliness,

a puzzle moving around the bricks,

hoping for a sliver when you return,

for the sky is never ending.”

Treasured Place, Treasured Words

Since September 2018 Mel Perry has been working through the library in Gnosjö to promote creative writing by teaming up with a group of children and a local teacher. With inspiration from “The Lost Words” by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris, Mel has taught the children the poetic technique of the acrostic, where certain letters in each line spell out a word or phrase. Choosing items from a local forest in September, the children have created poems that have extended their vocabulary and expression and reflect the importance of their natural world to them.

This is an example written by one of the Hilma Jarlstram, “Röda löv”, which translates as “red leaves”.

The children have since developed their ideas and use of the technique to create a series of acrostic poems and their own paintings about boats and the sea, "The Coast Words". This project within Young Writers Lab culminated in readings by the children at SmåLit2019 in Värnamo in February.

Treasured Place, Treasured Words has helped the children learn new poetic techniques, research their ideas, extend their understanding of creative writing, value their classmates, enjoy their environment, and build confidence in their writing and performance.