I run an OD network which meets regularly in London. Today's session was led by a former Director of Arts Council England, Dawn Langley. In it, she introduced some of the arts-based practices that she uses to engage people in organizations through words and pictures. One of these involves translating matter-of-fact articles, reports and so on into what Dawn calls "found poems".
Inspired by the creativity that network members had shown in using this technique, I thought I would while away the time on the train journey home by giving it another go. As source, I used a fascinating article written by Valentine Low in tonight's London Evening Standard, entitled "West End's secret river".
The resulting poem uses words solely from the article itself. And, apart from some minor changes for effect, the words appear in their original order. These were self-imposed constraints. Dawn is much more accommodating! Her approach allows as much 'poetic licence' as needed to 'find the poem within'.
As light relief from my more serious musings on informal coalitions and all things organizational dynamics, I thought I would add the poem to the blog. So here goes!
LONDON’S SECRET RIVER
Imagine.
A shimmering stream
Winding through London’s heart.
Silvery waters glistening
Through the West End.
Tree-lined banks
By Piccadilly.
Trout fishing
In Mayfair.
Kingfishers darting
From bank …
To bank.
Sounds charming.
Charming but impossible –
The stuff of fantasy.
Make this happen, Tyburn!
The lost river of London.
Still flowing,
Metres underground.
Bring the Tyburn back
To the surface.
Wouldn’t it be beautiful?
A river running
Through Berkley Square.
People fishing
In Mayfair.
Properly done,
We could have salmon!
Buckingham Palace
Would have to go.
The House of Commons as well.
And chunks of West End real estate.
A large swathe cut
Through Green Park, flow
Into the Thames
At Pimlico.
Make it happen, Tyburn!
A found poem from Valentine Low’s article “West End’s secret river”, London Evening Standard, 8 July 2008.
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