More than just an outpouring of strong feelings, a poem has the ...

MadforPoetry 25/9/05 6:28 pm Page 1<strong>More</strong> <strong>th<strong>an</strong></strong> <strong>just</strong> <strong>an</strong> <strong>outpouring</strong> <strong>of</strong>strong feelings, a poem has thepower to capture the richness<strong>an</strong>d complexity <strong>of</strong> hum<strong>an</strong>thought in a single moment.Memories, sensations <strong>an</strong>dimpressions – the freightedcargo <strong>of</strong> our restless thinking– are suddenly all givensharpness, clarity <strong>an</strong>d definition.

MadforPoetry 25/9/05 6:28 pm Page 2Mad for PoetryWriting almost 3,000 years ago, theGreek poet Homer celebrated the swiftness<strong>of</strong> hum<strong>an</strong> thought by comparingit to the flight <strong>of</strong> the goddess Herareturning to her home on MountOlympus. In some <strong>of</strong> the earliest writtenverse in western history, memory <strong>an</strong>dimagination are depicted as combiningto send r<strong>an</strong>dom thoughts darting throughthe hum<strong>an</strong> mind, inst<strong>an</strong>tly tr<strong>an</strong>sportingthe thinker from place to place atunimaginable speeds. The process, asHomer describes it, is subtle, mysterious<strong>an</strong>d uncontrollable: no wonder that itbecomes linked through his poetry tothe behaviour <strong>of</strong> the gods.<strong>More</strong> <strong>th<strong>an</strong></strong> <strong>just</strong> <strong>an</strong> <strong>outpouring</strong> <strong>of</strong> strongfeelings, a poem has the power to

MadforPoetry 25/9/05 6:28 pm Page 33capture the richness <strong>an</strong>d complexity<strong>of</strong> hum<strong>an</strong> thought in a single moment.Memories, sensations <strong>an</strong>d impressions– the freighted cargo <strong>of</strong> our restlessthinking – are suddenly all given sharpness,clarity <strong>an</strong>d definition. To the reader,that moment c<strong>an</strong> come as a flash <strong>of</strong>recognition. In Mad For Poetry, a series<strong>of</strong> films made for Five in associationwith Community Ch<strong>an</strong>nel, five peoplewho have experienced mental healthissues give their personal reactions toa poem that has special me<strong>an</strong>ing forthem. In their own way, each speaks <strong>of</strong>that moment <strong>of</strong> recognition: <strong>of</strong> seeingsomething <strong>of</strong> themselves <strong>an</strong>d <strong>of</strong> theircondition, captured in words writtenby <strong>an</strong>other.

MadforPoetry 25/9/05 6:28 pm Page 4Conceit by D H Lawrence (1885-1930)Because it’s <strong>an</strong> illness you c<strong>an</strong>’tsee, it’s deep inside – it’s verydifficult for other people tounderst<strong>an</strong>d it.’'Now let me be myself'For Sonita, aged 32, married with two children <strong>an</strong>dliving in Bradford, that moment <strong>of</strong> recognition isdirectly linked to the import<strong>an</strong>ce <strong>of</strong> ‘being’ oneselfrather <strong>th<strong>an</strong></strong> ‘knowing’ oneself.‘Now let me be myself,’ the poet <strong>an</strong>d novelist D HLawrence writes in the concluding lines to Conceit,Image: Eileen © Magali <strong>More</strong>au

MadforPoetry 25/9/05 6:28 pm Page 6Writing by Charles Bukowski (1920-1994)‘He didn’t care that he wasn’ta part <strong>of</strong> society . . . he hasbeen my best psychiatrist!’'the ultimate psychiatrist'Poetry isn’t simply the expression <strong>of</strong> thought: it isthought. As such, it does not respect the st<strong>an</strong>dardisedgrid <strong>of</strong> l<strong>an</strong>guage that usually appears on the printedpage; lines stop short or spill over, repetitions occur,<strong>an</strong>d gaps appear where normally there wouldn’t be<strong>an</strong>y. Traditional notions <strong>of</strong> metre <strong>an</strong>d rhyme, <strong>of</strong> prettysubjects treated in a pretty m<strong>an</strong>ner, have long sinceImage: Dolly © Magali <strong>More</strong>au

MadforPoetry 25/9/05 6:28 pm Page 7fallen away. It’s signific<strong>an</strong>t that none <strong>of</strong> the poemsselected for this series clings to such outmodedconventions, preferring instead to follow its own rules,establish its own reality.Take Charles Bukowksi’s Writing, for example, a slimcolumn <strong>of</strong> text running down the page, resting uponits last line, which contains only a single word: ‘is’.In it, Bukowski describes the act <strong>of</strong> writing as his lasthope <strong>of</strong> salvation, ‘the ultimate psychiatrist, thekindliest god <strong>of</strong> all the gods’. ‘It is necessary for him,’remarks Dolly, a published writer <strong>an</strong>d perform<strong>an</strong>cepoet, ‘like breathing or eating. You have to write.’Dolly started hearing voices when she was 14, <strong>an</strong>experience that scared her so much that she triedto take her own life. Later, diagnosed as bipolarwith schizophrenia, she turned to alcohol <strong>an</strong>d drugsto cope with ‘the deadness’ she felt inside. ‘I couldidentify with his belief that writing has saved him,’ shesays <strong>of</strong> Bukowsi’s poem, ‘<strong>an</strong>d I think it did the samefor me.’ Dolly also identifies with the way Bukowski’slife <strong>an</strong>d his poetry became indivisible, <strong>just</strong> like herown. ‘He didn’t care that he wasn’t a part <strong>of</strong> society,’she explains. ‘Having the stigma <strong>of</strong> a diagnosis me<strong>an</strong>sI feel on the fringes <strong>of</strong> society, at the bottom <strong>of</strong> theheap. Bukowski made it cool to be there . . . he hasbeen my best psychiatrist!’7

MadforPoetry 25/9/05 6:28 pm Page 8Tulips by Sylvia Plath (1932-1963)‘the tulips disturb Plath’snumbed withdrawal from herlife into nothingness with theirunbearable vibr<strong>an</strong>cy.’'Upsetting me with their sudden tongues'There’s a quiet concentration to the reading <strong>of</strong> poetrythat seems almost instinctive: as if the thoughtsthemselves are so complex <strong>an</strong>d so delicate thatonly the deepest silence c<strong>an</strong> contain them. Str<strong>an</strong>geconnections <strong>an</strong>d associations start to emerge; thepoem comes alive in our ears at that moment.According to the poet Sylvia Plath, lying in herhospital bed, the red tulips st<strong>an</strong>ding at her bedsideare ‘d<strong>an</strong>gerous <strong>an</strong>imals’ that should be caged: they’reImage: C<strong>an</strong>dice © Magali <strong>More</strong>au

MadforPoetry 25/9/05 6:28 pm Page 9‘too excitable’, filling the air ‘like a loud noise’.This is not the usual way people look at flowers.But then, most people would not describe themselvesas ‘a 30-year-old cargo boat’ who has been swabbed‘clear <strong>of</strong> my loving associations’ or having a bodythat’s ‘a pebble’, worn smooth by the sea.‘It was the best depiction <strong>of</strong> depression that I’d everseen,’ says 17-year-old C<strong>an</strong>dice <strong>of</strong> Plath’s Tulips,‘because it was so true in what it was saying. I was ableto relate to that because I’d <strong>just</strong> come out <strong>of</strong> hospital atthat point – it made me think back to the time when Iwas depressed, because I felt like I wasn’t <strong>an</strong>ybody. I’dbeen stripped <strong>of</strong> all my emotions. I couldn’t laugh; Icouldn’t cry; <strong>an</strong>d I did <strong>just</strong> feel like nothing.’C<strong>an</strong>dice’s father died <strong>of</strong> c<strong>an</strong>cer when she was four,<strong>an</strong>d she feels she’s never really had a home. In 2002,she was diagnosed with depression <strong>an</strong>d <strong>an</strong>orexi<strong>an</strong>ervosa <strong>an</strong>d subsequently hospitalised. In the poem,the tulips disturb Plath’s numbed withdrawal from herlife into nothingness with their unbearable vibr<strong>an</strong>cy:something C<strong>an</strong>dice underst<strong>an</strong>ds only too well.‘Sylvia seems really distressed by the presence <strong>of</strong> thetulips in the hospital because they’re a const<strong>an</strong>t reminder<strong>of</strong> everything that she’s trying to get away from,’ sheremarks. ‘When I was in hospital it was the lowest pointin my life, but by the time I came out it certainly mademe respect my life more <strong>an</strong>d w<strong>an</strong>t to live again.’9

MadforPoetry 25/9/05 6:28 pm Page 11fairies, Oberon is more closely associated with Pluto,god <strong>of</strong> the underworld in Greek mythology, who ruledover the dead.‘At its worst, I was suicidal,’ Les recalls <strong>of</strong> hisexperiences with chronic depression. ‘I wouldn’t shave.I wouldn’t wash. I wouldn’t ch<strong>an</strong>ge my clothes. I’d sleep20 hours at a time to escape how I was feeling.’It me<strong>an</strong>t a lot to discover that such episodes weresomething he shared with the author <strong>of</strong> Oberon. ‘I didfind inspiration from finding out that somebody asfamous <strong>an</strong>d as well known as Spike Millig<strong>an</strong> sufferedmental health problems,’ he says. ‘He’s produced suchwonderful pieces <strong>of</strong> art <strong>an</strong>d work; it’s been a very biginspiration to me.’From Oberon’s perspective in the underworld,all <strong>of</strong> nature’s processes have been inverted.For Les, however, the beauty <strong>of</strong> Millig<strong>an</strong>’s poemis that its negative perceptions c<strong>an</strong> be turned around toread positively: ‘The flowers in my garden grow up,’ heobserves, ‘<strong>an</strong>d the black rose c<strong>an</strong> become <strong>an</strong>y colouryou w<strong>an</strong>t it to be.’BeautyLes has created a garden at the drop-in centre wherehe works, <strong>an</strong>d he speaks <strong>of</strong> his love for watching thingsgrow. ‘I am coming to terms with all those problemsthat I used to mask,’ he says. ‘I c<strong>an</strong> see the progress,I c<strong>an</strong> see the growth within me.’11

MadforPoetry 25/9/05 6:28 pm Page 12Still I Rise by Maya Angelou (1928- )‘Out <strong>of</strong> the quickness <strong>of</strong> ourthinking comes salvation;through the power <strong>of</strong> ourimaginations comes thestrength to rise.’'Up from a past that's rooted in pain'We communicate with each other precisely becausewe are divided from one <strong>an</strong>other. World Mental HealthDay, on 10 October, comes as a reminder <strong>of</strong> howprejudice <strong>an</strong>d misunderst<strong>an</strong>ding keep us apart.‘You’ve given me a label, but you haven’t taken timeto get to know me,’ says Eileen, a mother <strong>of</strong> twoImage: Eileen © Magali <strong>More</strong>au

MadforPoetry 25/9/05 6:28 pm Page 1313grown-up children, remembering the trauma <strong>an</strong>dalienation <strong>of</strong> her time in hospital after being diagnosedbipolar. ‘I was so scared – I was so, so scared,’she recalls.Poetry must be strong as well as delicate to reachacross that divide. Still I Rise by Maya Angelouspeaks in a voice <strong>of</strong> mounting affirmation,declaring itself with quiet defi<strong>an</strong>ce. ‘I’m ablack oce<strong>an</strong>, leaping <strong>an</strong>d wide,’ the wom<strong>an</strong>in the poem <strong>an</strong>nounces, confronting her unnamedoppressors. ‘Welling <strong>an</strong>d swelling I bear in the tide.’StrongEven trodden down ‘in the very dirt’, she comparesherself to the mineral wealth <strong>of</strong> the earth itself: togoldmines, diamonds <strong>an</strong>d oil wells. Laid low, heroutspoken destiny is to rise.‘The first time I came across the poem, it hit home,’remarks Eileen. ‘It reminded me <strong>of</strong> what I’d beenthrough. I’ve been labelled m<strong>an</strong>ic-depressive,I’ve been labelled “mad”, “crazy”, “outcast”.’ Inpoetry, however, perceptions c<strong>an</strong> shift because<strong>of</strong> a single thought. Out <strong>of</strong> the quickness <strong>of</strong> ourthinking comes salvation; through the power <strong>of</strong>our imaginations comes the strength to rise.So even when the poem ends, the last lineis read, <strong>an</strong>d the book closed – thethought continues.Rise

MadforPoetry 25/9/05 6:28 pm Page 14ResourcesMadforArtsMadforArts is a project whichencourages people withexperience <strong>of</strong> mental healthissues to discuss their feelingsabout art. The project consists<strong>of</strong> a website <strong>an</strong>d a number <strong>of</strong>short films made with peoplewho have experience <strong>of</strong> mentalhealth issues. Five <strong>of</strong> the firstfilms were shown on Five lastOctober. In that first series <strong>of</strong>short films, people talked abouttheir favourite pieces <strong>of</strong> publicart. In this second series, peopletalk about their favourite poem<strong>an</strong>d what the poem me<strong>an</strong>s forthem. MadforArts is run byCommunity Ch<strong>an</strong>nel <strong>an</strong>dcommissioned by Culture Online,a part <strong>of</strong> the Department <strong>of</strong>Culture, Media <strong>an</strong>d Sport.You c<strong>an</strong> find out more about thisproject on the website, whereyou c<strong>an</strong> also create your ownstudio space to show artworksthat inspire you <strong>an</strong>d explain why<strong>an</strong>d what they me<strong>an</strong> to you,whether it’s a song, a sculpture,a painting, a poem, a stonecircle, a view, a building, a filmor a photograph. You c<strong>an</strong> alsopublish your own creations, <strong>an</strong>dinvite other members tocomment on them.Website: www.madforarts.orgCommunity Ch<strong>an</strong>nelTelevision to make you thinkagain about the world <strong>an</strong>dinspire you to do somethingabout the issues <strong>an</strong>d causesthat matter to you. Available24 hours a day on Sky Digital585, Telewest 233, ntl 14 <strong>an</strong>d511, <strong>an</strong>d from 6am–9am onFreeview 46.Website:www.communitych<strong>an</strong>nel.orgCulture OnlineCulture Online is <strong>an</strong> innovativeinitiative to increase accessto <strong>an</strong>d participation in arts<strong>an</strong>d culture. It brings culturalorg<strong>an</strong>isations together withcutting-edge technical providersto create projects that willdelight adults <strong>an</strong>d children <strong>of</strong>all ages <strong>an</strong>d backgrounds.Website:www.cultureonline.gov.ukMental Health MediaAn org<strong>an</strong>isation which uses allmedia to promote the voices <strong>of</strong>people who have experienced

MadforPoetry 25/9/05 6:28 pm Page 1515mental distress <strong>an</strong>d to challengethe discrimination they face.Mental Health Media sells awide r<strong>an</strong>ge <strong>of</strong> videos <strong>an</strong>d newmedia resources <strong>an</strong>d <strong>of</strong>ferstraining, advice <strong>an</strong>d supportto people with experience <strong>of</strong>mental distress.356 Holloway RoadLondon N7 6PATel: 020 7700 8171Email: info@mhmedia.comWebsite: www.mhmedia.comRethinkRethink aims to help peopleaffected by severe mentalillness, including schizophrenia,to recover a better quality <strong>of</strong> life.It <strong>of</strong>fers information to carers<strong>an</strong>d pr<strong>of</strong>essionals as well as toindividuals on a r<strong>an</strong>ge <strong>of</strong> issues,including the different types<strong>of</strong> illness <strong>an</strong>d their treatment,money, benefits <strong>an</strong>d legalmatters. It has a nationaltelephone <strong>an</strong>d email adviceservice.Tel: 0845 456 0455Advice service: 020 8974 6814(Mon–Fri 10am–3pm)Email: info@rethink.orgWebsite: www.rethink.orgTogether: Workingfor WellbeingA national charity that workswith severe or enduring mentalhealth needs in more <strong>th<strong>an</strong></strong> 100different projects, in partnershipwith other org<strong>an</strong>isations suchas primary care trusts <strong>an</strong>d localauthorities. It also works toinfluence national mental healthpolicy <strong>an</strong>d improve practice inmental health care.1st floor, Lincoln House296–302 High HolbornLondon WC1V 7JHTel: 020 7061 3400Email: info@together-uk.orgWebsite: www.together-uk.orgMDF The bipolarOrg<strong>an</strong>isationMDF The bipolar Org<strong>an</strong>isation is <strong>an</strong>ational, user-led org<strong>an</strong>isationwhich aims to enable peopleaffected by m<strong>an</strong>ic depression(bipolar) to take control <strong>of</strong>their lives through the servicesit <strong>of</strong>fers to members. Theseinclude: self-help groups;information <strong>an</strong>d publications;employment advice <strong>an</strong>d a24-hour legal advice line.Castle Works21 St. George’s Road

MadforPoetry 25/9/05 6:28 pm Page 16ResourcesLondon SE1 6ESTel: 08456 340 540Email: mdf@mdf.org.ukWebsite: www.mdf.org.ukThe Mental HealthFoundationMHF runs a comprehensivewebsite on all aspects <strong>of</strong> mentalhealth in the UK. It has informationon mental health problems,treatments <strong>an</strong>d strategies, plusdetails <strong>of</strong> news <strong>an</strong>d events.9th Floor, Sea Containers House20 Upper GroundLondon SE1 9QBTel: 020 7803 1100Email: mhf@mhf.org.ukWebsite:www.mentalhealth.org.ukMindA leading mental health charityin Engl<strong>an</strong>d <strong>an</strong>d Wales whichworks to create a better lifefor people with experience <strong>of</strong>mental distress. It promotesthe views, needs <strong>an</strong>d ambitions<strong>of</strong> people with mental healthproblems as well as challengingdiscrimination <strong>an</strong>d lobbying forhigh quality services.15–19 BroadwayLondon E15 4BQTel: 020 8519 2122Mind infoline: 0845 766 0163Email: contact@mind.org.ukWebsite: www.mind.org.ukThe Sainsbury Centrefor Mental HealthSCMH is a charity that worksto improve the quality <strong>of</strong> life forpeople with severe mental healthproblems. It carries out research,development <strong>an</strong>d training workto influence policy <strong>an</strong>d practicein health <strong>an</strong>d social care.134–138 Borough High StreetLondon SE1 1LBTel: 020 7827 8300Website: www.scmh.org.ukS<strong>an</strong>eS<strong>an</strong>e was set up to raise awareness<strong>an</strong>d respect for people withmental illness <strong>an</strong>d their families,improve education <strong>an</strong>d training,<strong>an</strong>d secure better services; toundertake research into thecauses <strong>of</strong> serious mental illness;<strong>an</strong>d to provide information <strong>an</strong>demotional support throughS<strong>an</strong>eline.1st Floor Cityside House40 Adler StreetLondon E1 1EETel: 020 7375 1002

MadforPoetry 25/9/05 6:28 pm Page 1717S<strong>an</strong>eline: 0845 767 8000(Mon – Fri 12noon–11pm,Sat <strong>an</strong>d Sun 12noon–6pm)Email (admin queries only):london@s<strong>an</strong>e.org.ukWebsite: www.s<strong>an</strong>e.org.uk24 Hour MuseumA virtual museum which isa gateway to over 3,000museums, galleries <strong>an</strong>d heritageattractions across the UK,including all those mentionedin this booklet.Website:www.24hourmuseum.org.ukMental Fight ClubThe brainchild <strong>of</strong> a wom<strong>an</strong>suffering severe mental healthproblems <strong>an</strong>d who was inspiredby Ben Okri’s poem MentalFight, this is a new org<strong>an</strong>isationwhich aims to encouragepeople who suffer mental healthproblems to join groups thatdiscuss poetry, fiction <strong>an</strong>d art.Tel: 020 7378 1768Email:mentalfightclub@btinternet.comWebsite;www.into.org.uk/mentalfightclubThe poems featured inthe Mad For Poetry filmsConceit by DH LawrenceOberon by Spike Millig<strong>an</strong> in HiddenWords: Collected Poems (Penguin,1997)Still I Rise by Maya Angelou inComplete Collected Poems <strong>of</strong>Maya Angelou (Virago, 1995)Tulips by Sylvia Plath in SylviaPlath: Collected Poems (Faber<strong>an</strong>d Faber, 2002)Writing by Charles Bukowski inbl<strong>an</strong>k gun silencer (1991)There are obviously m<strong>an</strong>y, m<strong>an</strong>ybooks <strong>of</strong> poetry to choose from.One good way <strong>of</strong> starting <strong>of</strong>f is tobuy <strong>an</strong> <strong>an</strong>thology as that will giveyou a good cross section <strong>of</strong> poets,styles <strong>an</strong>d content. The recent<strong>an</strong>thologies edited by DaisyGoodwin <strong>of</strong>fer poems themed bysubject such as 101 Poems toKeep You S<strong>an</strong>e <strong>an</strong>d 101 PoemsThat Could Save Your Life, bothpublished by Harper Collins, arereadily available in bookshops <strong>an</strong>don the internet from Amazon <strong>an</strong>dother retailers. Norton’s Anthology isarguably the best collection <strong>of</strong> over1,000 years <strong>of</strong> poetry in one tome.

MadforPoetry 25/9/05 6:28 pm Page 18CreditsFive22 Long AcreLondon WC2E 9LYPublished in 2005 by Five toaccomp<strong>an</strong>y MadforPoetry producedby Five <strong>an</strong>d Community Ch<strong>an</strong>nelWriter: Ken HollingsEditor: Julia BardPhotos <strong>of</strong> Sonita, Dolly, C<strong>an</strong>dice<strong>an</strong>d Eileen: Magali <strong>More</strong>auProduced by: Red CinnamonDesigned by: Laura HambletonPrinter: Windsor PrintThe MadforPoetry films wereproduced for Five <strong>an</strong>d CommunityCh<strong>an</strong>nel by Media TrustProductions.Directors: Dunc<strong>an</strong> Crowe, PetalFelix, Sarah Graham <strong>an</strong>d HarrietScott Executive Producer: J<strong>an</strong>eStephensonWebsite: www.mediatrust.org© 2005 All rights reserved.For further copies, please senda request to:MadforArtsPO Box 55LondonWC2E 9WG