Exmouth Quakers mark Refugee week
'Friends have invited local businesses to exhibit two poems by David Woolger, a seventy-six-year-old local poet from the Meeting.
Exmouth Quakers are celebrating ‘the richness and diversity’ of their local community for Refugee Week. For the occasion, the Friends have invited local businesses to exhibit two poems by David Woolger, a seventy-six-year-old local poet from the Meeting.
Kerri Wright, from Exmouth Meeting, told the Friend: ‘Businesses have responded enthusiastically and over ten have agreed to exhibit the poems so far, which will be on display throughout June.’
‘David describes himself as an Anglo-Indian and was brought up a Catholic,’ she added. ‘David lives with mental health issues and was diagnosed with schizophrenia as a young man. During his therapy at a local hospital, David started writing poetry and has recently had several books of his poems published locally. David writes about his experiences with mental health [and] racism, as well as his love of Exmouth. Singer songwriter Mark Waistell (also a member of our Meeting) held a joint music and poetry evening with David recently, and many of the audience were brought to tears listening to David reading his poems, interspersed with Mark’s beautiful music. The energy in the room was electric. I realised then that these poems were incredibly powerful and wanted to share them more widely.’
The businesses are exhibiting David’s poems with a short piece of information celebrating the diversity of Exmouth. Many cafes are exhibiting the poems, as well as a farm shop, artist’s studio, and the library, with a display about Refugee Week, from 17 to 23 June.
Kerri Wright said: ‘Refugee Week seems more poignant this year, with the current government’s policy of making the UK a hostile environment for refugees, including ostracising and holding people in detention centres, and plans for deportation and the simplistic “stop the boats” message. We wanted to counteract this message and celebrate the richness and diversity of people within Exmouth.’
One of the poems, ‘Our England’ by David Woolger, reads: ‘What does it matter if we’re not a sporting nation? / What does it matter White, Black or Asian? / What does it matter Muslim or Jew? / What does it matter Christian, Hindu? / What does it matter rich or poor? / What does it matter delightful or dour?’
The poem goes on: ‘What values make us a “chosen people”? /Not minaret, temple, synagogue or steeple / The strands that bind us, one to another / Are caring and loving our sister and brother.’
Exeter Meeting has supported refugees for many years. A large bequeathment to the Meeting was used to buy a house, where the council now homes refugees.
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