In June the Isolation and Loneliness in Older People project in Merthyr Tydfil began an 8 week engagement process that has involved meeting with various older people’s groups in the North Merthyr community. The artists are clare e. potter, Poet, Colum Sanson-Regan, Writer and Musician, and Nigel Pugh, Photographer. The group’s main aims have been to build connections, to encourage debate about loneliness and isolation and to work with individuals to tell their stories either about their experiences of loneliness and isolation or their experiences of working to overcome loneliness and isolation within the community.
For the launch the team went on a walk with the Dowlais Walking Group from Butetown, Rhymney, to Brynbach Park. Below are some of the photographs taken by Nigel and poems written by Clare that both reflect on the photographs and record Clare’s own observations.
In a line like pilgrims, each
with our silent prayers,
on this patch we catch
offerings of long gone walkers;
do their thoughts remain
in this air? Look how the cow
breaks from grazing, chewing
over something, taking pause
full of curiosity; like us. Sacred
and ordinary.
Having a Whiff
We can only cross the bridge one-at-a-time;
this is how it is.
Some linger, mid-way, a hand rests on the wood
stability so the mind can consider depths
below; thoughts settle somewhere
and we breathe, and move on.
See more here:Productive Margins