‘refrain’ is the first of a series of texts written by Anna Mace as part of the CtC Writer in Residence (CtC WiR) Programme launched in October 2017. Over the course of four months, the resident writer will contribute short stories, inspired by a contemporary work. Anna has based her first piece on the sound pieces ‘Muted Situations’ by the artist: Samson Young
refrain*
tomorrow breathes out there
somewhere, surely
plays this orchestra of me
for all the trying loves, like these
brings us to our knees
and when I dream
I dream in multicolour shots,
about exhuming immortality
(seems it is there all along),
unwrapping ragged b(lo)ody battle songs
exposing the swathes of time,
still kind, from being
people we loved, it was the
musical hush, making us cry
and blackness was just an ally
not bleak, we sit on sorry’s bench
inked in small, “for the Fool on the hill”
and the silence like a waterfall, like folded
folded, folded, persisting, origami shapes
spells: H.E.R.E. in quietly drifting landscapes,
isn’t only this that helps us feel our bones
but more, the winds were coming in,
like screams were coming in,
like we are coming in
like *gleams of bright are coming in
Anna Mace
Anna Mace is an artist, writer and poet. Having studied Fine Art, she is keen to merge the boundaries between text, art and performance, experimenting with different creative media and seeking to engage with a broad audience. Inspiration comes from modernist, symbolist and experimental poetry traditions. Between writing she works as a teacher and has lived abroad in India, Japan and Europe but now resides in Bristol, UK.
Published poetry online includes; Kemptation Music, Boundless magazine; Ink, Sweat and Tears and Visual Verse. She was resident poet for the National Trust at Bucks Mill Cabin, Devon, creating limited edition art zines.
Her current projects include writing poetry for the bookart edition two and edition three, Revolve: R, where her poetry was made into short films. Revolve:R has exhibited nationally and internationally in 2016 and 2017.
Her poetry manuscript, am, was shortlisted for The Melita Hume Poetry Prize 2015 and 2016 with Eyewear Publishing, London.
She has also helped co-direct writing workshops for children (3-14 years) as part of Paper Nations with the Eden Project, Corsham Library and Africa Writes Festival 2017.
Featured image: Muted Situations (video still) (2014 – ), Instructions, video, Samson Young
CuratingtheContemporary (CtC) 