Friday Headlines

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A Poetic Encounter

22 March 2024

We enjoyed an absorbing visit from Imtiaz Dharker on Tuesday, in which Dharker explained some of the thoughts and inspirations which led her to writing her anthologised poem, 'Blessing'. Dharker also talked about poems (and IGCSE exam texts) by John Agard, Carol Ann Duffy, Alice Walker and Sujata Bhatt, albeit in a biographical, anecdotal and philosophical way.

Students asked some intelligent and insightful questions in the final part of each lecture / Q&A session. Amrita Dhillon of 10W, in the first session, ‘was inspired by Dharkar’s holistic view on poems' which inspired her 'to look into the deeper meanings within texts’. Millie Hardiman of 11M, in the second session, found it 'intriguing to see how Imtiaz manipulates her language to evoke powerful emotions based on her past experiences and inspire the next generation of poets.'

English teachers in attendance were enthralled by Dharker's approach to poetry as a medium, issues of cultural identity and the writer's craft. Dharker granted us performances of many of her other poems, one which was inspired by EHS old girl Malala Yousafzai and another which was strikingly solemn and personal ('The Trick').

We really enjoyed Imtiaz Dharker's visit and greatly look forward to meeting her again, both here at EHS and at a future Poetry Live event, in which she has promised us a break-time coffee and chat with some of the other famous poets with whom she regularly rubs shoulders.

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Imtiaz Dharkar

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