Here is the writing by participants of an online virtual writing group, doing the ‘Me With You’ workshop as part of a project funded by the National Arts Council in June 2020. This group – mentored by Ros Haden – is called ‘The Eagles’. Two other groups participated at the same time: The Wordsmiths and The Dreamers.

You can read their great biopoems here.

Read their descriptions of waking up in the morning – using their senses – here.

Read their ‘Show don’t tell’ exercise – all based on the same basic event – here.

These poems were inspired by playing with imagery:

Straight To Your Heart – by Njabulo Mokoena
I am Vast and Spacious – by Justice Ripinga
As Dedicated as the Wind – by Motebang Disene
The Plain House of Envy – by Adilet Hamid
I am a Spring Garden – by Gugu Radebe
I am Curiosity – by Lulu Manyathi
I am Resilient – by Siyamthanda Mabizela
I am a Road of Anger – by James Masilo
I am a Lock – by Lilonke Sidlayi

These poems were inspired by the place the poets are from:
Where my heart lies – by Justice Ripinga
Between the Sky and Earth – by Adilet Hamid
Our fear is the light of our dreams – by Njabulo Mokoena
Do for Cash – by Motebang Disene
Crying a Red Sea – by James Masilo
Vacant Spaces – by Siyamthanda Mabizela
Vulnerable to our reality – by Gugu Radebe
The cages we paint – by Lungile Manyathi
Crying a Red Sea – by James Masilo

And here are their final narrative essays:
The Meaning of Home – by Gugu Radebe
The Shadow of Death – by Lungile Manyathi
The Courage of Convictions – by Lilonke Sidlayi
Crossing the Fence – by Justice Ripinga
Busted – by Motebang Disene
Found – by Siyamthanda Mabizela
Hidden from Sight – by James Masilo
To Tell the Truth – by Adilet Hamid
The Calling – by Njabulo Mokoena