To accompany ‘Coleridge Unbound’, State of Trust in collaboration with the Museum of Somerset, delivered creative writing, poetry and drama workshops to schools and colleges in Taunton, Somerset. Coleridge’s article in The Watchman reflecting on the Transatlantic slave trade and the controversial speeches he made as a lay preacher including to the congregation at the Unitarian Chapel, Taunton were used as a starting point for the sessions. The speech provoked discussion about slavery and racism, and students were able to explore themes of prejudice and discrimination and the notion of activism resulting in the creation of their own protest speeches and creative writing on issues that they felt strongly about.
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Feedback from teachers:
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‘Students were engaged throughout and even students who were reluctant, due to their lack of confidence in writing poetry, were enthusiastic by the end.’ Megan Evans, Teacher, Courtfields School, Taunton
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‘Students were encouraged to apply their creative writing skills within the context given and produced some stunning results and were really proud ‘’ Teacher, Bishop Fox’s School, Taunton
Examples of creative writing/poetry produced from workshops:
Bishop Fox’s School’s group poem about Equality:
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‘Equality. Everyone is equal,
And everything is fair,
Don’t let discrimination have a sequel,
Don’t do it because of a dumb dare
Everyone should be treated with respect,
Like the police slogan we should serve and protect,
Equality isn't abolishing difference,
Equality is embracing the world that we live in,
Equality requires teamwork, we all have a voice,
Let's give the world a second chance,
It’s time to make your choice,
Russian Roulette, â…› chance of getting shot,
Let’s use a quick analogy because there's a lot,
To say, because each day a woman has a â…™ chance of being assaulted,
Men in charge are hardly revolted,
They are too busy staring at the secretary,
While the wife with hopes a plenty, stays at home to raise a baby,
Equality is everyone having a choice
Equality is everyone having a voice…….’
Kingsmead School’s group poem about the Environment:
‘The flower screams in pain as a little girl picks it from its stem.
She says “I love you little flower” placing it behind her ear, not hearing the silent screams.
The atmosphere collects gas like a net, the earth gradually warming like a pre- heating oven.
Sap drips out of the tree’s axe mark like blood pouring from an open wound.
The creak as it falls like the scream of a child being smacked across the face.
It cries louder than a toddler throwing a tantrum then falls like an injured soldier.
A bird flaps its wings to fly as its only Forrest home sadly waves goodbye,
the roar of saws echoes through the forest, leaving the carnage of bodies lying on the floor…’
