I spent two lovely fulfilling weeks in Atsitsa, Skyros in 2008. It had taken me 10 years to get there after somebody told me it had changed his life! I really wanted and needed to get in touch with my creative self which had been buried under the weight of life for too long.Singing in the sea and on the rock overlooking the sea were probably two of my highlights of the trip. But the eureka moment was during a course run by Julie McNamara. We explored our creativity and had the chance to write poems, draw etc in a supportive environment. I used to write poetry in my teens but hadn’t written any since school. I realised how much I enjoyed it.
I spent a year just writing my own musings in a book, not showing them to anybody. Then I decided I wanted to get these musings into a form that others could read and enjoy. I set up a session with Felicity Fair Thompson at The Grange on the Isle of Wight - we ended up spending 2 hours instead of 1 hour and it gave me the pointers I needed to make my musings into poems and I haven’t looked back since.
I have got about 40 poems now (written in just over a year) and I have put some of them into two competitions recently. Felicity has been wonderful at giving feedback on my poems and I have been back to the Isle of Wight twice in the last year, spending time with Felicity on both occasions to develop my poems.
I love The Grange in the Isle of Wight and I have used it as my place to go for a rest and recuperation over the last 2 years - it is a home from home.
I'd like to share some of my poetry with you which was in part inspired by my time at Atsitsa.
Sue Harris
RACE FOR LIFE - CELEBRATE BEING ALIVE
Pink ribbons flapping
Pink women running
Cancer for day banished
Love for life cherished
Sun beats down
on the ground
to the happy sound
of bees buzzing
butterflies strumming
people happily humming
Illness, death, becomes race for life
Women no longer Mother and wife
Together as one run and strive
To celebrate being alive
Picnics eaten
barbecues beaten
relaxing on the ground
in pink surround
laughter and tears abound
race for life profound
Sue Harris - June 2010
LUSTFUL AUTUMN
Cool breeze masks sultry heat of summer’s passing.
Luscious, vibrant , berries unveil lustful Autumn waking
Yellow, red, purple, round and juicy
Beckoning like a large breasted floosie.
Her songs once more caress our ears,
Energy returns for Autumn indulgence
Nurture for mind, body and senses,
Warmth for winter’s long impotence.
Sue Harris - September 2010
RHYTHM OF THE TRAIN
Swing it boys
Let it rip from the hip
Life in the fast lane
Slowed down by the train
Trees swaying in time
Cows chewing to the rhythm
Train meandering through semi tones
Swing it boys once again.
Sue Harris
Sue visited Atsitsa Bay for a holiday in 2008 where she had the opportunity to choose from a wide range of activities including personal development, windsurfing, painting, singing, dance, sailing and yoga. For more details about Atsitsa Bay or any other Skyros holiday visit www.skyros.com.
She also visits Skyros offshoot The Grange guest house on a regular basis. Visit www.thegrangebythesea.com for more details including our varied programme of weekend courses and B&B room rates.
