“Well, I don't have many and I don't have much. In fact, I don't have any, but I got enough”
Thursday, 13th December:
On Monday, I wrote some last postcards and felt the sudden desire to see Glasgow Cathedral again, so as soon as I felt a little bit better on Tuesday, I set out to go there. While crossing the street just before the cathedral, I remembered the museum that is situated on the corner, so very spontaneously, I paid a visit. It’s about the religious life in Glasgow and shows the art of the different confessions. After the museum, the windows in the cathedral seemed even grander.
In the evening, Estelle came over and we continued our bible study with a cup of tea.
Yesterday, I met up with my Dutch friend for a cup of hot chocolate and the Christmas markets. We also went into the Gallery of Modern Art near George Square, but neither of us understood any of the pictures displayed. On the Christmas market on St. Enoch Square, she showed me a book about Harold the Haggis, which was just hilarious, and I bought myself a Crêpe with Nutella and banana. After that, I felt in the mood for some live poetry, so I went to the Open Mic Event in the Union. And guess what: without any nervousness this time, I presented my poetry again.
I’ve come a long way here. Before this trip, I would have never dreamed of presenting anything I wrote. It helped of course, that the people I wrote about, were not in the audience, but it was such a non-judging community that I felt entirely save to read my most personal English poems. I don’t write much in English, to be honest, but that was no problem whatsoever. In fact, everyone was really interested to hear me read on of my German ones as well, so I did. I read one that I wrote shortly before I got here; one that is my personal favourite. They loved it so much, that they asked me to read two more after the break, so I did.
Funnily enough, they said my character changed completely when I started reading my German poems. The style, I guess, has a lot to do with it, but maybe it is true, that you have a different character in different languages.
After I had finished, the girls in the corner said, they want to learn German now and a guy, that had previously called German harsh, apologised for his earlier opinion. “Next time, I hear German poetry, I’m gonna think of you”, he said as we said goodbye. So, I guess, I can write that down as an achievement, right Carter?
Mary
*lyrics by Passenger “Hearts On Fire”
