Resounding Rhythms from Wrekin Writers

'Yes this is Wrekin Writers,' Bryan said as a new member walked into our workshop on Saturday morning. The explanation was needed because when Drew walked in he found twenty of us with drums between our knees banging out African rhythms.

Okay so we're different but we had a lot of fun.

Getting to grips with the djembe (the drum)

Brenda had no trouble mastering the art. I pity the drum though.

To add interest other instruments were added. And the thing Angeline is holding, was dead. Mike is concentrating hard, hence the expression on his face.

 But no matter how much noise we made, we still didn't manage to wake Robin.

Saturday was a great workshop and it was interesting to use music, sound and rhythm to communicate rather than words. Our Chairman's Challenge is to write something inspired by the what we did. That should make for very intesting reading.

Chairman's Challenge

For those of you who are eagerly awaiting the results of February's Chairman's Challenge, I'm afraid you're going to have to wait another month. It has been judged but won't be announced until the meeting in April this is because of the two hour workshop we had during the March meeting.

Chairman's Challenge

Gosh December seems an age away but with the ice and snow that has covered Shropshire for most of January and February it seems like only yesterday.

However, it was some months ago and with me cancelling the meeting in January because of the weather, we didn't get to find out the results of our December's challenge until February's meeting.

As usual Wrekin Writers' excelled themselves when they tackled the subject 'it was the 24th December. During our read around, I flinched, I really didn't want the job of judging them but fortunately and bless her, my vice chair Barbara Groom offered to do the job for me.

So the results are as follows

1st - Dean King

It was the 24^th of December

The day before the birth,

The day before your saviour came

To topsy turve earth.

And every year you’ll celebrate

The ancient eastern neonate,

And in his name you’ll spread the blame

To sanctify your hate.

It was the 24^th of December

Myrrh, frankincense and gold,

The day before you heard

The greatest story ever told.

And every year you’ll cleanse your sins

With pious carols, pious hymns,

But in his cause you’ll make your wars

And justify your whims.

It was the 24^th of December

They call in Christmas Eve;

The saviour myth a monolith

That flatters to deceive.

2nd - Angeline Wheeler

Tis the 24^th December and I’m on the shelf

They’ve gone to the pub so I’m all by myself

Presents are wrapped and stacked by the door

I’m feeling half cut better sit on the floor

Now where’s that bloke that I meet once a year

He has a big belly, so fully of beer, I mean cheer.

He has a white beard, ooh how it tickles

He’s been at the pies ugh and the pickles

A great big softy who arrives with the snow

On transport he hides so they don’t see him go.

I hear the key turn and the light shines through the crack

Please be quick Nick, just hurry, they’re back

His eyes sparkle as he tips me the wink

Disappears up the chimney before I can blink.

Too much sherry I guess conjured this sight

But like a whisper is carried on the wind tonight

Happy Christmas to all

And to all a goodnight.

 

3rd - Darren Bailey

THE SACK

“It was the 24^th December. Nearly midnight!” His pleading eyes were driving little wooden screws into her heart.

“All it takes is a little creativity, Nicholas.”

“I did make you a card.”

She dropped the pathetic construction into the snow. “If you were still up to the job you would have given me a sack full of wonderful things.”

“In an hour?”

“Well, that is precisely my point.” She climbed into the sleigh and looked down on the old fool. With that silly white beard and portly belly he was totally unsuited.

“The next Father Christmas selected will need to find the impossible a little less … Challenging.”

If you'd like to read more of our Chairman's Challenges we shall very soon be launching our anthology of 2009. For more details please check out our website on www.wrekinwriters.co.uk