Hamlet in a classroom - Page 4
From Griffith REVIEW Edition 11: Getting Smart
© Copyright Griffith University & the author.
Written by Lee Kofman
BUT NOW WE ARE NOT IN A SCHOOL OF CREATIVE ARTS but in community services. What shall I do? For the first time, I offer a writing exercise: "Write down something that is constantly on your mind but you don't dare talk about. Write something that makes you blush." "Why should we?" Nicole wants to know. "Because as long as you write about what really matters to you, you'll keep writing. This is my suggestion for getting inspired." They write and write; their pens screech. "Are you ok?" I ask Tom whose eyes have turned foggy. "I'm 45," he says, "and I never had anything good to say about myself. But now as I was writing about how I first got ill, at high school, I suddenly remembered that at the same time I also won the swimming contest. I don't know how I could have forgotten it ..."
Maria falters as she reads a piece she has just written on her father who has avoided her phone calls for the past eight years. Others listen very quietly.
"Same happened with me and my brother," says Chris.
"Is this exercise too painful?" I ask, angry with myself. "Would you like to stop?"
They keep writing. The rain has ceased. The class was supposed to finish half an hour ago. Usually my dear students become restless towards the end. They take cigarette breaks; occasionally some feel claustrophobic and leave early. But today it is as though their pens and papers have expanded their space, their limits, and have transported them into a Neverland of memories shaped anew, stories rearranged. I can see the dreams reflected in their beautiful eyes.
So who knows what will happen next? Will Chris be readmitted into the professional writing and editing course? Will Sara leave her husband for a gentle poet she'll meet at pub readings? Will Nicole publish her poetry?
Who knows? I cannot solve my students' problems. But if I can invite them weekly into this literary salon, where we can admire writers together, read widely, as Marion Campbell advises, share our love for language, and most importantly, write about what is really urgent to our hearts – if I can do all this, then I will have found an aspect of the democratisation of writing I can tolerate, even enjoy. ♦