Present: Heather (chair), Liz, Peter, Nathan, Simona, Tricia, Keith, Sarah DD, Alan (minutes),

Apologies: Hilary

News:

Peter announced his intention to step down as Chairman of WWC, as he feels that it is time for someone new to take the group forward. He intends to remain a member, but feels that others may be more effectively focused on the proposed introduction of various extra-mural activities. This, combined with his greatly increased emphasis on his competitive rowing, led to his decision.

Heather then asked if an AGM would now be appropriate, to which Peter responded by recommending this as the means of electing his replacement. It was therefore agreed to seek nominations for a new Chair, with the facilitating AGM to be held in the near future, May being considered a likely time.

Liz reported that the book group had read Monseignor Quixote by Graham Greene. Opinions as to its merit varied considerably.

Readings: The homework theme was “Equinox”.

Tricia chose to discuss various possible plot themes instead of reading. A hierarchy of minor Greek Gods had attracted her as a promising subject, insoired by this month’s homework theme of equinox. Combining the Greek deities with an earlier homework theme of controversy gave her the idea of a somewhat dystopian solution to future overpopulation problems. Either everyone went to sleep, thereafter failing to reawaken, or more sinisterly, only a selected subset did so. This latter variatiion prompted Alan to draw parallels with Nietzche. Tricia asked for further suggestions; Peter suggested simply writing spontaneously. The Gods having been on another planet also occurred to Tricia, whereat Heather suggested that arriving at an outline for the next meeting might offer an effective intermediate step.

Keith read two poems. The First, Johan, was a lively debunking of a typical self-styled “Jack The Lad” type. All admired the flow and cohesion of the piece, together with the volume and verve of the rendition. Liz was particularly taken with the old-fashioned language and vocabulary.

Keith’s second poem, Caroline, could hardly have been more different in style, mood or construction. It was based on his memories of a former sweethaeart who had suffered abuse as a child. Everyone was struck by the depth of feeling and emotional power of the piece. The underlying theme was Caroline’s overcoming and moving on, strengthened if scarred. Liz admired the sparing use of rhyme, together with the emotional intensity. Simona admired the treatment of faith and courage, while Heather was taken with the emotional frankness and sincerity. Given that Keith was expressing how Caroline’s feelings had effected him, all appreciated his willingness to share such intimate experience. Tricia admired the range of styles demonstrated by the depth and raw emotional honesty of the second poem, contrasted with the deliberate superficiality of the first.

Simona read part of the notes on Day 1 of her six day Kilimanjaro trip. The introduction featured Simona’s anticipatory nightmares and anxiety prior to the climb. Heather admired the vivid descriptions and sense of pace. Everyone admired the dismissive laconic dialogue whereby Chris simply confirms and thereby amplifies her fears. Simona explained that although some of the later sections of this piece were more intense, the anticipation of the climb had effected her most dramatically, both experientially and in terms of her subsequent writing. The compulsion to reduce the remaining time before a pre-ascent meeting with the climb guides affected her very deeply. Alan suggested emphasising the duality of her desperate attempts to remain calm, as opposed to her natural tendancy to panic. Discussion then turned to potential markets for the finished piece. Peter noted that the emotional reactions provided an entirely separate source of marketable material from any potential travel article material. All eagerly anticipated further installments.

Nathan read a poem called Planted and a Haiky entitled Stubborn Beauty. “Planted” was written while sitting in his grandmother’s garden. The poem effectively wove a false sense of security with the initial natural images, before the malign effects of the narrator’s unexpectedly assumed role lead to the final mea culpa.

The Haiku “Stubborn Beauty” achieved quite a different form of emotional contrast, enhanced by the intrinsic brevity of this poetic form. Nathan’s last line, “But the Earth refused”, was greatly admired. Keith wondered whether the red rose being refused by the stubborn earth was a metaphor for rejected love, as a red rose is a commonly symbolic declaration of suitors’ affections. The group wondered whether Sarah could set both poems to music.

Heather read “The Visit”, a deeply empathetic observatiion of the changes wrought by time on her aunt in North Devon. Delightful imagery and allusion abounded, as usual with Heather’s poetry – “foxgloves nudging train-cramped legs”, “hovering by bright fuchsias in the porch”. Sarah admired how Heather’s love for her aunt came through so strongly, despite never being explicitly mentioned. Nathan admired flow and softness conveyed by Heather’s writing. Heather then mentioned her aunt’s albeit utterly non-technical fascination with astronomy, most originally reflected in her pre-sleep musings about “long dead stars wandering sightless through the heavens”.

The piece de resistance was Heather’s totally unexpected revelation that this was an “ABC” poem, (of which your amanuensis had never heard, not being a poet). No one had spotted this strutcure, greatly pleasing Heather, who correctly concluded that its remaining undiscovered showed that her poem wasn’t contrived.

The readings were paused, after the break, to allow for:

 A discussion of Proposals for Future WWC Events

The underlying objective was to identify and arrange events to attract new members, following a circulation of ideas by email initiated by Heather prior to the meeting. Tricia Liz, Simona and Heather form the current Working Group. It was discovered the Fiery Bird in Woking may be hired for a WWC event, alternatively, participation in one of that Lionsheart Bookshop’s events could be considered.

Heather summarised the feedback thus far: 

1. There is currently no great enthusiasm for a WWC event, so Heather suggested shelving the idea of a specific WWC poetry and Prose “open mic” event, at least for the time being.
2. Heather then proposed that the Working Group revisit ideas for other types of venues and events. Woking Library appeared to have recruitment potential.
3. Keith suggested a display of WWC work at the library. 
4. Liz suggestedapproaching the library about WWC having a table display. A one-day event was considered, but longer durations were also a possibility.
5. Tricia agreed to email Peter, to obtain his contact at the library, in  order to liaise with them, to attempt to arrange dates and details of a table and possible displays.
6. Simona will look at marketing materials, posters, etc..
7. Liz mentioned a Surrey-wide internet portal that allowed groups to advertise their presence.
8. It was agreed that the Working Party will consider all these ideas.
9. Keith will join the Working Party and was welcomed as a new member thereof.

Sarah read three pieces.

The first was a poem, “Sean Henry Sculptures in Woking”. All admired the concept, vividly expressed, of the subtly anthropomorphised figures actually relating to and participating in their surroundings. This was a very original treatment, dramatically different from many renderings of such subjects, that seemed the more lively and dynamic for the contrast.

The second, “Equal Night”, was a media piece comprising her voice-over of her poem “Equal Night”, with a beautiful and most professionally crafted astronomical back ground of cloudscapes, astronauts on the moon, constellations and extra-terrestrial images of earth. Everyone admired the consummate professionalism of the seemless integration of image, music and voice, with Liz hailing Sarah as having taken the group into a new era of media and music.

 Finally, “Enchanted” was a poem read to a background of recorded blackbird song, dedicated by Sarah to Liz on the occasion of her 80th birthday. This was another delightfully original and atmospheric piece, with Sarah’s voice and the avian accompaniment in skifully achieved acoustic balance. 

Liz began by noting that spring often inspires her to compose Haikus. Another source of material had been Sister Wendy Beckett’s book “Meditations on Peace”, which afforded considerable encouragement. Liz then read five Haikus set on the Basingstoke Canal, which ranged in time from the start to the end of the day. Richly crafted, skilfully compressed imagery from the canal surroundings found a most appreciative audience. “Duck Pond Morning”, based on a recent break at Tylney Hall, contained some intriguing observations of the apparently scatter-brained behaviour of herons. Tricia admired the images that conjoured the idea of spring growth, leading to a discussion about emphasis and punctuation. Liz explained how she enjoyed choosing the few words allowed in the hiku form.

Alan read “The Age of Enlightenment”, a short story about a group of archaeologists battling to excavate enough remains of an archaic computer, before the bulldozers moved in to trash the site. This back story was considered by some to require more emphasis, together with the underlying technical definitions. Alan agreed to circulate the story, to see if clarification might actually have already been achieved.

Next meeting: 7.30 on Thursday at St Mary’s Church Hall, Horsell on 18th April 2024

Chair: Tricia

Minutes: Heather

Wine: Nathan

Milk & Biscuits: Simona

Homework: Perception