My Rants In Rhyme Poems

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In the Summer of 2023 Laura Anne Middlemiss (Artist and Illustrator) and I got together to create pictures and words which would tell the story of domestic abuse in a relationship. We would go on to use some of our work, this poem and a collection of images to introduce the story of The Spider In The Glass in a leaflet.  The leaflet also included the contact details for agencies who offer support to those experience domestic abuse.  The leaflet was created in collaboration with the Highland Violence Against Women Partnership. 

This poem was written in Edinburgh after watching a performance of a show called "Are you still watching?" at the Fringe Festival, by a lady called Sonia Wilson.  Her one women show took the audience on a whirlwind tour of all the reasons why we humans, do not get on, with following our dreams.  The main character always wanted to sew a silver jacket and so "Bold" was written.   That same year after a very successful "Reclaim The Night March" a lady called Lorna Stanger ran overnight from Inverness to Thurso (110 miles).  I read Bold to the gathering before Lorna set off, in her silver running jacket.  It's become something of a tradition, whenever I see you Lorna, I read Bold for her.  It's a reminder to us all to chase our dreams and be bold. 

The Untangling - Is simply a reflection of the value of a therapeutic journey.  Particularly for those whose trust and boundaries have been violated.  

 Unconscious Bias - I use storytelling to create understanding of lived experience. Our lived experience creates our unconscious bias. Every course contains a reference to bias and this poem. We cannot instruct people to change their bias but we can invite them to a higher level of awareness of it and the impact of it. 

While delivering Gender Based Violence Training for HVAWP I was asked to incorporate into it information on the National Trauma Transformation Programme (NTTP).  Specifically, to explain to participants what a Trauma Informed Response would look like.

I considered all of the things which would need to be said to embed this information. As always once I had a good understanding of what was required it appeared again in a poem Safety, Choice, Control ( A Trauma Informed Response).  The language of the NTTP has evolved, control is now empowerment and there is reference now to respecting the cultural norms of the individual.  

Still, I think the poem does it's job.  I like to keep things simple and to explain things in language that I find people understand.

I believe I teach in a trauma informed manner.  It is not helpful to share my knowledge in a way that causes people to think that either it or I are in any way superior. I believe that the first step to engaging those whom you hope to learn with is to create a safe learning environment.  For many of people it has never been safe to be wrong and as such, I ensure that they are right.  I believe it was Albert Einstein who said "If you cannot explain what it is you are trying to teach in such a way that a five year old can understand you, you do not truly understand it yourself".  Beware people claiming to teach you clever things, they are hoping that you will believe them to be clever.  In my experience the opposite frequently applies.

The poem speaks from the perspective of a person who has experienced trauma and expressly what it is they need from people with whom they interact.