Creative Partnerships Exciting Minds Conference was held in Manchester on 27 and 28 November, 2006. I met teachers and artists who are clearly exciting the minds of young people up and down the country.
One of the speakers on the first morning, introduced by the wonderfully creative writer for children, Michael Rosen, and followed by the inspirational educator, Stephen Heppell, was the Managing Director of Unilever Ice Cream and Frozen Foods Ltd (which includes Birds Eye), Fergus Balfour.
If you were there, you will recognise that the first section of this piece, like its title, is “found” poetry, in the sense that it is a packaged version of Mr Balfour’s own words.
“Frozen is the new fresh …!”
A Captain of Industry addresses the young
“I want to awake your passion
your truth-telling
your ability to observe
your astonishment
I want you to aspire to higher things
and you will be rewarded
in the pocket-book
and in the soul.”
Ah, but the young will observe
(among your frozen fish fingers)
the bags of frozen camel chunks which
will not pass through
the eye of the icy needle
free in every bag of frozen peas
And, passionately, in the light of their creative fire,
they will see fresh truths
leaping like living silver fish through spray
all bread-crumbs forgotten
deep-freeze left far behind.
One of the speakers on the first morning, introduced by the wonderfully creative writer for children, Michael Rosen, and followed by the inspirational educator, Stephen Heppell, was the Managing Director of Unilever Ice Cream and Frozen Foods Ltd (which includes Birds Eye), Fergus Balfour.
If you were there, you will recognise that the first section of this piece, like its title, is “found” poetry, in the sense that it is a packaged version of Mr Balfour’s own words.
“Frozen is the new fresh …!”
A Captain of Industry addresses the young
“I want to awake your passion
your truth-telling
your ability to observe
your astonishment
I want you to aspire to higher things
and you will be rewarded
in the pocket-book
and in the soul.”
Ah, but the young will observe
(among your frozen fish fingers)
the bags of frozen camel chunks which
will not pass through
the eye of the icy needle
free in every bag of frozen peas
And, passionately, in the light of their creative fire,
they will see fresh truths
leaping like living silver fish through spray
all bread-crumbs forgotten
deep-freeze left far behind.
Sometimes, being angry is very good for kickstarting writing! Though you have to calm down to improve it later! I shall put this in the drawer for a few months now.
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