A Report by 'Thomas Tobias

On 28th November 2004, in a Sunday afternoon variation of the MFC's Blake Supper tradition, around twenty MFC members dropped in to join in a special poetic tea-party, (or Blake Cuppa), at the MFC HQ 'Fort Douglas'   This auspicious gathering marked the 247th anniversary of the birth of the England's greatest visionary artist, poet and MFC muse, Mr William Blake.

The party was graced by a display of quotes from Blake's Auguries of Innocence alongside a new London Zoo series by MFC Photographer in residence, Stephen Burrows.   Many present read aloud their favourite Blake poems.  The gathering was particularly honoured to hear the first reading of a new poetic treatise by the up and coming young poet Ciara Styles-Rouse.  Entitled 'The Poem', this work was specially and beautifully handwritten on waxed paper by Ciara and presented in a ribboned scroll for 'Thomas Tobias' to read:

'The Poem'

The poem has been around for centuries ever since the Greek and Roman time when they started using word and rhyme. 

It branched out in plays with blood and gore, love and romance, jokes and laughter but it wouldn't have done if we did have poem invented by the pen about a boy, a butcher, a house or a hen.  

Poem and literature is beautiful, the sound of it is indescribable and it is but words.

And if no poem, no nightingale, no singing dove and most of all there would be no love!

But we have forgotten about one thing, a very important thing it is to sing, to sing the song! 

No poem, no song, no poem, no love, no poem, no nightingale or singing dove.  No poem, no feeling, no poem, no play. 

So, if you are poet, you have a special gift, hold on to your talent, don't let it drift.

By Ciara Styles-Rouse

In response to the deliciously expressed sentiments of 'The Poem' and to honour Blake's own tradition of singing out his poetry, Thomas Tobias sang the unaccompanied setting by Ralph Vaughan William of Blake's poem 'The Divine Image' from Songs of Innocence & Experience.

Tea and cakes then continued to be heartily consumed by all present.

Thanks to all for turning up and giving so generously of yourselves.

Here's to the next one!

NOTE:  'Thomas Tobias' is also known as Sarah Wheeler, the Founder Director of the Mental Fight Club.    Why two names?  Well its a long and rather tortuous story of unusual sexual/gender identity problems which have lain at the heart of a lifelong bipolar depersonalisation disorder. Click here to read more about Thomas Tobias