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#115 Roger Harington Wall of Words

Photo of Roger Harington

Roger Harington

There are words which,

When I read them, make me think

I’d like to remember this, it’s

Wise or witty, may

Tell me what I know but with a

Precisely arresting clarity, whereas

Other words I like can lead me

Beyond what I know, they’re

Searching, reaching out

Beyond the border of

Accurate awareness, the words

Suggest, evoke a possibility, the

Hint of a thought, an idea, they

Serve, honour, wonder at

Life’s encapsulating mysteries, they

Haunt me, they’re

All in my quotation book where the words are like

Bricks, they make a wall for a

Reservoir to store a supply to

Tap each morning so they can

Nourish intentions

Irrigate the will, enable a

Sense of a self to grow who is

Calmly purposing directions, but

Here they come again, how life must love

Planning these raids to fly in low to drop the

Bomb that cracks the wall so

Rage is bursting through to

Drown my mature intentions so I have to

Keep on and on rebuilding.

Precis

Here we are, in September 2020. This month we share a vivid array of true stories – from motorbike adventures across Australia, to an impossible love affair, from China to Leeds – with photographic portraits from Mike Pinches and others to help bring the stories, and the personalities behind them, to life. From the beginning of June 2020, we have been gathering a growing collection of stories – all of which reflect the lives and rich experiences of older people living in Leeds and beyond. It has been a difficult and painful time for us all: Covid 19 has brought considerable hardship, loneliness and loss to so many. Our Covid Diaries of July and August reflect this only too well. But September brings much to celebrate. And at the Performance Ensemble, we believe in the power of the human spirit – and of real human stories – to help us heal, reflect and move forward. After September, we will be taking a pause from this process to work on exciting new plans for the future. Meanwhile enjoy reading – and maybe you have a story of your own, that you would like to share with us? Be in touch.

Edited by Barney Bardsley