Last week, during the Christchurch Heritage Festival, we ran three masterclasses exploring both the heritage of inner city Ōtautahi Christchurch and ways in which we can write about the ideas in our heads.
Our young writers collected words from signs, plaques and poems etched on footpaths. Back at Tūranga they worked collaboratively to form new meaning from their found words, making decisions about order and shape and form.
Here is the first set of two.
City of Art by Grace and Boston
Graffiti, a maze
of patterns
scribbles
and stickers.
the weeping willow
twisting into art
on the walls
never seen before
fountains donated and
dedicated
the wreckage of a horse
ramp, designed
in willow branches.
The new is always
changing
walking backwards into
the future.
Recycling History by Katelyn and Ben
Impressive hazard
on the history
of Christchurch citizens
honour women of spirits
for the had a long campaign
walking backwards into the future
Ōtatutahi/ Christchurch
welcomes all people to gather
to rest and to reflect
caught in recycling patterns
of history.
Like Atomic bombs by Peyton and Arro
Are you scared children?
Nobody is coming to save us
Earthquakes cost
weeping eyes
Disaster exploded
warning minds.
Masked leaders, damaged
town centres
and government
sorry I died
shifted through
cast iron and stone.
Evidence connected everything
like three atomic bombs
people suffered.
Courage by Maia and Jordyn
i do not regret
hardship and suffering
strong women met
with death
you'd say we're climbing
regret
they forget
we endure
A Place for the People by Tayla, Baie and Dylan
memorial of women's suffrage
nobody is coming to save you
just don't lose hope.
elimination of racial
discrimination;
the names of atua
in green
a place for the
people;
quarried, carted, hoisted
and carved
they trade leaves for a
song, the land, the sky, the ice, and
the horizon
I'd say we're climbing a
white wall
to heaven
Evolving with the Times by Verna and Harry
Brutalist movements are evident throughout
women of spirit
long campaigned for the vote
A survivor, lost Heritage
saved by the citizens
The best of both worlds
The Journey to Oxford by Lily, Caitlin, Charlotte and Solarah
The tram crossed the bridge
It had a journey to Oxford
The city founder created theatre in the heart of our city
With our own resources we have been prodigal, yet
Our country will not lose the scars of our grasping stupidity
It will threaten your job and hurt your family
It will lead to death, war and mass starvation
The heroes, as they walked away
were climbing a white wall to heaven.
More found poems coming soon!
Thank you to our young writers and to our supporters, The Christchurch Heritage Festival and Christchurch Libraries.
(c) Write On and the young writers
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