Waiting for Godden: Poem: Courage is a muscle #timesup

Ash Sarkar, Salena Godden, Sophie Cameron - Womens March 2018

Courage is a Muscle

Courage is the muscle
we use when we speak,
if we’re being talked over
and told we’re too weak.

And when we get weary
and when it gets tough,
it’s our united courage
says Enough is enough.

Courage is the muscle
we work night and day,
to get equal rights
to get equal pay.

Our blood is taxed
our blood is shame,
our courage unites us
for we all bleed the same.

Courage is the muscle
we flex when we must,
courage is the muscle
for truth and for trust.

Courage is the muscle
we use when we speak,
if we’re being walked over
and told we’re too weak.

And when we get weary
we march side by side,
100 years, we’re still marching

with courage and with pride.

(c) Salena Godden / work in progress

Poem written for #Timesup Women's March London 2018

@SajeelaKershi @SholaMos1 @womensmarchlon #womensmarchlondon #pessimismisforlightweights

I went and joined the Womens March #Timesup Rally at Downing Street, London today.

It was so inspirational Thank you to Women's March for the opportunity to speak and to contribute. I hope this day reminds us all to amplify and empower women. If you want to help, give your energy. Read more women and listen to women's work. If you run an event, a TV or radio programme, make sure you book more women, put women as the headline feature, fund more women, put more women in print, push women forward, pay women properly and equally and on time, embolden women's art and literature, give women the mic... If a country will elect a president or prime minister who does not protect or speak up for the women of that country, who does not want to give women freedom and the freedom of choice, then the women will be forced to unite and rise up to do the vital work of protecting themselves, themselves. And I stand in solidarity with all courageous people coming forward today and speaking up. Pessimism is for lightweights. Courage is a muscle.

#TimesUp on sexism, discrimination and inequality

backstage: Salena Godden, Paris Lees, Reni Eddo-Lodge, Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, photo by Elainea Emmott

I'm going back underground now. I've been spending winter living like a hermit in a writing prison, working dawn to dusk, to get some new work written. I'll see you again in Springtime... My first gig of 2018, February 18th, Verve Festival, Birmingham.

Also coming up: I am thrilled to be working on a project with LSO Jerwood Composer Jasmin Kent Rodgman 'HUH' premiere, March 17th, LSO St Lukes, London

I'm doing gigs and bits for International Womens week also in March, I'll share more dates, and news in next blog post...Keep fighting the good fight!

sgxx

NEW book for 2018: Others - Writers on difference

Currently being crowdfunded and published by Unbound with all net profits going to refugees and stop hate charities. A collection of essays, stories and poetry on the theme of being 'Other' I will be joining other-others in a spectacular line up that includes Leila Aboulela, Gillian Allnutt, Damian Barr, Noam Chomsky, Rishi Dastidar, Peter Ho Davies, Louise Doughty, Salena Godden, Colin Grant, Sam Guglani, Matt Haig, Aamer Hussein, Anjali Joseph, AL Kennedy, Joanne Limburg, Tiffany Murray, Sara Nović, Edward Platt, Alex Preston, Tom Shakespeare, Kamila Shamsie, Will Storr... #Wetickother Please make a pledge and help get this book into print by ordering your hardback copy today! Follow hashtag #Othersbook

Read more https://unbound.com/books/charles-fernyhough-others