the coven of raucous women
Somewhere along the way, in the last few months, the poetry I was writing connected to Spain, India and Ireland that channeled the voices of sunken, silent women became the poetry of the coven of raucous women.
Raucous ‘cause they’re free, not only loud. And coven because, well, they’re in a circle but also there is such a heritage of mystery and magic in them and also, because of the fire I always see them gathered around.
Discovery of Fire is the first section of a new poetry collection that has emerged, inspired by them!. I share an audio excerpt below. The section contains an Urdu translation of the Song of Amergin, the poem that took me to Ireland.
Also, inspired by the guidance of raucous women, I want to share that there are 3 partial scholarships available for women of color for YOUR VOICE AS CATALYST: the workshop I am leading that starts next Wednesday, January 31.
A 6 week journey to create a CATALYST EXPRESSION about what keeps you silent, what wants to speak, to propel you towards what is calling you next. More info about the workshop & scholarships here. Sign up soon if you want to because well, Wednesday is just around the corner.
The poetry collection is called the body becomes the poem
The first poem is called fire enough and it begins…
In the yellow room of her parents house
a woman once said
‘in my own way I am modest,’
meaning her way not their way
but a few months later, she swallowed her words…
I wrote the first draft of this poem at least 15 years ago. And then it found its way to Ireland last winter. How poems travel!
I recorded the audio in November in a small town in the west of Ireland, near the sea. I think I was sitting by a fire. I stumbled here and there as I spoke and I left those mistakes in for now.
In the future, I want to record it with some music. Oh there are so many people and landscapes who inspired this collection and I’ll share more about them in the weeks to come. But for now, I prefer to share just the words, just the sounds, just the mystery.
For now, I will share a link to the grandmothers. And Scéine. And the English version of the Song of Amergin is Paddy Bushe’s version of the poem.
It’s a bit wild to write COVEN OF RAUCOUS WOMEN out loud. But also not - because they’ve become so real and tactile and hell, yes - AUDIBLE.
I think that’s why I’m doing this catalyst journey offering, I’m just tired of being quiet, of being curated, of being strategic, of fitting in, of over-planning, of not believing.
I believe in the old trees, the lost roots, the wild seas, the forgotten stones, the mysterious journeys that call us to wade deep into the forests of silence and there, make a big fire and a loud sound. olé.
in solidarity
Shebana
excerpt from 'the body becomes the poem' by Shebana Coelho
