Tales from a river's running

A Giant Girl with Rainbow Eyes

Stories from a river’s running

stepping stones

shark and smiling eels

This week, I am working with various schools in Barnoldswick in East Lancashire. Here, we are combining art and storymaking with science, using information children gathered on river-dipping workshops to inspire tales, transformation, flag making and puppet shows….

On our first day today, St Joseph’s RC Primary, set out to find the characters from lost myths that might, or might not, or really should, live in the waters that run through the town. The were rver princesses, unicorns, trolls. there was a water-witch, a golden duck and several dragons...

Working with the Ribble Rivers Trust, we are building up to a celebration next week, a gathering of River Tales that capture the excitement, drama and biodiversity of a river

The Stepping Stone Troll
"Curling, curving water,

Swirling, whirling,


Shallow water,
Fast water,
Running round moss-slippery rocks.
Blance carefully,
Over my stepping stones,
Walk if you can,
Run if you dare,
Cartwheel if you feel
That you really want to die
and cross the stones if you can pay my fee”


Meander speaks
Gurgling water,
Curling, swirling water,
Fast water,
Curving round corners,
Tumbling over rocks,
A peaceful place to sail.

Sometimes.
Risk your life here other times
When the rain comes,

And the mud slides,
Capsizing boats,
Washing people
Over the waterfall
And down to the sea.

The Ducks
Water falling,
A beautiful scene,
Gliding fast,
Past green trees,
Crashing down round,
Hard rough rocks,
Where ducks wait
Sitting
On round rough rocks.
White ducks laying golden eggs,
Goden ducks will hatch
From golden eggs
Gold as the rarest treasure
The only golden ducks
In all the world
These ducks are hunted.
My ducks.

 

a water witch smiles

many thanks to the staff and pupils of St Joseph's 

and especially the artists and storymakers of Class 4!