A poem written and performed by Keisha Thompson

I’m looking forward

wondering why you’re not on

this stage with me

I’ve been brought in as the Poet Chronicler for the day

I’m the one who gathers scraps

of the event and makes it sound

all flowery but I can honestly say

that every word I’ve heard today

has been nothing short of poetry

Unedited eloquence

looking forward

I see nothing but stanzas

sonnets and similes

Mother, mother, there’s too many of you crying

I didn’t expect to start this event

with tears, the lights dim, Marvin Gaye

fades to a crackling hush and we’re off

A wonderful welcome from the co-design team

Carmen, Vincent and Heidi

Blue socks, a grey mop and carefully curated gold jewellery

They share a video showcasing the many voices

who made this event and it gets to me

my throat is stinging, sinuses ringing like a struck

funny bone - oh no - I can feel the tears coming already

It’s fine because the mask will cover my nose running

I can hold this in, I tell myself and then… Zuzanna walks

on the stage and it is game over

The first time I met this woman she was more hormones

than hair ringlets, an iridescent teenage human

the last show she did at Contact was about feminism when

she expressed her enthusiasm for wanting to become a midwife

And now she stands and says that university knocked the life out

of her and my heart breaks - she is all statistics of NHS staff bullying

and black women who are four times for likely to die during pregnancy

Why should I be ashamed of crying about that?

That should get to me - these tears are merely a sign that I am cleansing

I am present. I am ready. What else does this day have in store for me?

After the provocations from Zuzanna, Devaprya and Naomi, we are split off

via the medium of banners made from the community group - Plastic Shed

But not before our hosts give thanks in advance to Katherine, Andrew and Roxy!

I follow the group that have signed up to the BRAP session

within minutes we’ve been told things are going to be interactive

we are greeted with a case study then with beautiful smiles - Joy

and Diane invite us to “dive in” - we do - because the tone has been

set perfectly, these women know how get their participants to embrace

discomfort and challenge themselves - they reassure us that “we don’t

have to agree but we have to disagree well.”

I take myself off to another session being led by two brilliant siblings

Dorcus Seb and Blue Saint - I almost faint at the serendipity of two women

who share the meanings of their names in Swahili - Precious Life - Anzara

and Myeesha - do you see what I mean? I am completely redundant today

the poetry is already happening without me.

I wander into the Exchange Room 2 - hushed 1-1s with the co-design team

One woman says that even when you take away economic barriers, we are

still held back by our mentality - the voice that says, “That’s not for us”

(This is actually the steward talking about the refill on refreshments) but still

it seems to make sense...

I skip over to the round table held by Aurelia Magazine and immediately lament

at my inability to clone myself. - the air is plump with good conversation and

possibility. Maz talks about her discovery of “misogynoir” as others share the

words that have set them free. Kya says she is looking for a word that means -

the constant state of growing and learning. I wonder if she would be satisfied with

“Wabi-Sabi” which is Japanese for the acceptance of gradual growth and decay...

This room is overflowing with epiphanies. Poppy tells us that she likes to tell people

to “unplay the game” - so edifying - this whole event is a riot of people who don’t want

things to stay the same and on that note, I could continue to relay the events of the

day to you in this poem, basking in the safety of half-rhyming and good comedic timing

but what’s the point in that?

We’ve come to that part in the poem when it falls a bit flat.

Should I describe word for word how we discussed the definition of racism in the session

led by BRAP? A social construct from the 16th century - nah I’m not going to do that.

Because if there’s one thing I want you to take away from today

It is that the conversation

does not end here

we’ve got work to do

Every time I come to these events someone says “I think we should focus less on the

negative aspects” as if our silence will make all these issues go away.

Don’t get me wrong - there is a lot to celebrate but if we don’t do the work then we are

nothing but a black square on Instagram, a Red Stripe moustache wiped off your philtrum

Our good old friend - tokenism

Let me set the record straight - black joy exists

like Zimbabwean languages that are free from gender binaries

our history is brilliant and waiting for us to catch up

Black joy exists - we do not need you do invent it for us

Yandass’ film makes this wonderfully obvious

From Xana sharing that they have been growing callaloo and hibiscus

to Dorcus talking about Congolese banter that allows her to exist

in fluidity and authenticity - no explanation. No hesitation. No shame.

So how do we make it go away?

Cue Lemm Sissay, “It’s not that complicated. It’s not that complicated. It’s not that

complicated. Give space. Give power. Then step away.”

I wish I could give this panel my full attention

But I’m too busy writing this. Like Yandass says, “I don’t want this to end.” I think I’ll use their

words since they put it so perfectly. “If you’re going to a taxi, then take it to the driver.”

Driver, don’t stop at all - drop me at a destination called tomorrow when the sun doesn’t fall.

Driver, don’t event hitch - I’m looking forward to the day when we don’t need events like this.

Performed during the event 'Looking Forward Tomorrow - Equality'