10/29 workshop

This week's workshop went pretty well. We brought in a poem by Lisa Lewis called "Bridget" that addresses issues of gendered violence and female solidarity. We read the poem aloud (each woman--there were about five women present-- read a section of it), and then had a discussion. Several women talked about ways in which they identified with the speaker and subject matter in the poem, and even shared narratives of their own, some of which I (Molly) felt ill-equipped to respond to. In general, though, it was a good discussion, and I think people liked the poem. When we asked how they felt about turning a subject of violence and violation into a work of art, one woman said something along the lines of, 'When I read this and can identify with it, I know I'm not alone.' We talked about expanding the solidarity discussed in the poem into a broader solidarity between us as female readers of the poem and the female author. After the discussion, everyone wrote a poem in response to the poem, beginning with the last few lines of "Bridget." We shared what we had written at the end of the workshop. Everyone seemed willing and happy to share, and also supportive of one another's work.