Rose petal perfume

The arthur+martha project The Homeless Library is the first ever attempt to write a history of homelessness in Britain. It includes not only individual testimonies, but also poetry and art, giving it a shape like no other. Look for more related blogs on this site, or befriend us on FaceBook.

Lois writes:

A discussion about gardening at The Booth Centre, Manchester took us to a Eastern European cherry tree, to making rose petal perfume as a child, to funeral flowers. A number of poems were written (one group piece shared below) and many badges. 

'Solve the mystery of life', handmade badge. Steve and André's. 

The badges used recycled vintage books, print outs used as discussion starters for previous Homeless Library Sessions and a pile of faded flower pressings from my childhood. Some deeply-felt, some touching, some funny - many aspects of life reflected in a very compact 2 hours.

'Bloom up Love' handmade badge for the Homeless Library

'A rose for mum in spring.' Danny

Flowers from a funeral

Remind of a butterfly

Preserved, pressed, impressed,

Watch them blossom

As you get older, appreciate

Easter daffs

When you're older

You stop

And

Look: geraniums, roses

I seem to be looking at flowers a lot

My friends are passing away

Different flowers for different

Seasonings

Damsons and cooks define

Strawberries and cherries

My grandfather taught me how to get

Many berries from one plant

One cherry in production

As the summer is coming

It turns

Apple tree red

Plum

I know how to grow

This is my great grandfather's school

To remind me

To eat

To take to a harvest

To take cuttings.

Question:

Have you seen a many-coloured cherry tree?

A weeping willow?

Question: have you made

Rose petal perfume?

The universe all together is

Complete and perfectly unique.

Group poem, The Wellspring, 21st July 2015

'In the garden Bruce Lee kicking'  Emma.

Phil and I have loved our time at The Wellspring, thanks to everyone for making us so welcome, your patience, having a go at our creative ideas and your openness. See you in December.