In a second post featuring poetry by one of our workshop participants, Sheena Sen, Sheena gets to the heart of the project by personalising our project title and, indeed, the title of Natalie McGrath’s play. In her earlier poem, Sheena explores the emotions and thoughts tied up with experiences of loneliness. By contrast, ‘The Beat of My Heart’ is a heartfelt exploration of what motivates and drives the speaker. The beating heart is often a symbol of warmth, passion, and energy. In this poem, Sheena uses repetition and rhyme to create a closely packed and punchy piece that really moves us.<\/p>\n
This heart beats for Loyalty<\/p>\n
and too for acceptance<\/p>\n
with or without commonality<\/p>\n
it beats for simplicity<\/p>\n
in a world full of complexity<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
for the sounds of my family<\/p>\n
for lost love and last loves<\/p>\n
for the lost and the found<\/p>\n
for kisses once dreamed of<\/p>\n
and gendered equality<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It beats for diversity<\/p>\n
to be brave and show courage<\/p>\n
in the face of adversity<\/p>\n
it beats to end prejudice<\/p>\n
and be fierce in the fight<\/p>\n
for all human rights<\/p>\n
like those who precede me<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It beats for memory of time<\/p>\n
for belonging and longing<\/p>\n
for all that is certain<\/p>\n
and all that is not it beats<\/p>\n
for the breath that rests<\/p>\n
between life death<\/p>\n
and freedom<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
<\/p>\n
Asked to reflect on her poem, Sheena has added:<\/p>\n
I took the title of the play and thought about what it all is, what is the stuff we are made of in our beating heart of existence. Your project and research is valuable as it creates a space for the questions inside us. It allows space to breathe in integrity and with as much honesty as we have in us, when we express what it means to be lonely or to belong in a place or a family that expression is real . I felt like an imposter at the start of the sessions as my personal journey hasn\u2019t been difficult and yet I realised I too have felt isolated and a sense of loneliness at one time in my life. I recognised others words were like mirrors as they resonated in the story of my life. It made me write.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
We’re very glad it did.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
To cite, please credit Sheena Sen.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
— Richard Vytniorgu<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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