WOWO Thursday, 27 February 2025, 7-9pm GMT

Tradition dictates that the last Thursday session in every month opens with the presentation of the entries for Mug of the Month, and this week is no exception. The key words SHELTER and SHADOW have attracted numerous texts of various genres, and as usual tension will vie with enjoyment until the winner has been elected!

The following four items were originally scheduled for last week. We look forward to hearing them tonight!

The White Cliffs of Dover by Mary Hodson is a deeply moving family memoir that follows a pilgrimage to Belgium to visit the grave of a relative who died in the Battle of Ypres in 1917. As the family retrace his journey, the narrative captures the weight of loss, remembrance, and the importance of passing down these stories to future generations.

Threading Time by Deirdre Anne Gialamas is a meditation on the passage of time and its impact on the human experience. The piece weaves through memories, contrasting fleeting moments of joy with the weight of nostalgia.

A Short Poem by Joyce Butcher is a playful but perceptive piece exploring the complexities of language, self-expression and regret. With clever wordplay and rhythmic flow, the poem captures the internal struggle between speaking freely and wishing for restraint. Both humorous and reflective, it highlights the tension between spontaneity and hindsight, reminding us of the power – and pitfalls – of our words.

Resurrection by Anne McManus is a sharp, darkly humorous poem that reimagines the experience of being raised from the dead – only to face the burden of life once more. The narrator, who has found peace in the afterlife, is suddenly pulled back, not for divine glory, but to pacify the mourning of others. With biting wit and a sense of weary resignation, the poem explores themes of duty, fate, and the unintended consequences of miracles. In a world where resurrection is no blessing, the speaker questions whether peace can ever truly be eternal.

When Nations Weep by Mary Hawkshaw is a powerful song and video production reflecting the timeless struggle for freedom from tyranny, dictatorship and colonial rule. Through the lens of Ireland’s fight for independence, the writer draws poignant parallels to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the latest example of the universal quest for self-determination.

We wish all participants a thoroughly enjoyable evening!

Programme

Competition +++ Mug of the Month +++ All Members

Memoir The White Cliffs of Dover Mary Hodson

Short Story Threading Time Deirdre Anne Gialamas

Poem A Short Poem Joyce Butcher

Poem Resurrection Anne McManus

Video Production When Nations Weep Mary Hawkshaw