By Asma Shatwan
Because I’m an artist I paint on a smile in scarlet and magenta,
And as an actress, I don’t let the curtain of tears fall, not even after the show.
The make-up hides the scars. Red and raw is now beige and pale,
And the gaping hole in my chest, I dress it in layers of silk.
As a playwright, I have a script for every move I make. I only get one shot at this, there are no retakes.
As a photographer, I capture life in silent, frozen frames for when my memory fails me.
As a dancer, I move to the rhythm, ignoring the dull ache in my limbs.
As a musician, my life is presented in notes. High and low, representing my rise and fall.
As a puppeteer, I pull the heart strings of everyone I meet, winding the strings gently around each finger.
As a carpenter, I chip away at my worries. Not a single move I make can be undone.
As a poet, I present life in lines for you to read what’s in between them.
I live this way because art is everlasting.
Indestructible.
Immortal.
And so am I.
Featured image and gallery: Lucy Elson-Whittaker It’s that time of year again: Manchester Psych Fest returns with one of its toughest line-ups yet, forcing festivalgoers to make some difficult choices about where to spend their day. With so much packed across the city, sacrifices are inevitable. Racing across Manchester, we catch four standout sets spanning…
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Featured image: Henry Redcliffe Not to be outshined by the artists performing today, the rain makes its inevitable return to the skies of Yorkshire over Leeds Festival. With the downpours hardly taking a break, Saturday is the day for the indie-heads and brats, as two of the most anticipated acts of the weekend take the…
Featured image: Georgina Hurdsfield Despite the dreary weather forecast, it seems the explosive noise of the night before has blown away the expected torrential rain, as the sun fights through the clouds to shine over Leeds Festival on Friday. With the opening of the ‘other’ stages, the first double headliner, and a very special birthday,…
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Beautiful poem Asma
well done