Museum of Science and Industry

A former science teacher has become the poet in residence at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI). Published poet Helen Clare is appealing for inspiring stories about Mancunians' links with the textile industry, to create poems linked to the textile collection items at the Museum.

Helen is active in the Manchester poetry scene, and has a particular interest in textiles because she is a dressmaker in her spare time. Helen will be 'Weaving Words' with local people interested in getting in touch with their creative sides, each Tuesday at the Museum, until the end of July.

Helen says her background as a science teacher and a seamstress have inspired her poems:

"I've always been fascinated by fabrics, and the science and technology used to create new materials. Science and industry is not normally connected to poetry in most peoples' minds, but it often produces extremely powerful experiences and emotions, so it is a rich subject for writers.

"You don't need to have had any experience of writing poetry to come along, so please get in touch to arrange a meeting! I'll be drawing on Manchester's colourful textiles heritage - the sights, sounds, smells, and textures of fabric manufacturing - to inspire you, and help to write some poetry which reflects this important part of Greater Manchester's story. A selection of the poems will be displayed in the Museum."

The poem (below) is taken from a collection by Helen Clare: Mollusc, published by Comma in 2005. It describes the process of making nylon:

Making New Materials by Helen Clare

Take solution A. Decant
into beaker. Flirt
with it's chloroform fumes.
Watch it swirl, sluggish
in dragon breath curls,
colourless clear
on colourless clear.
Add B, aqueous, hear
its lighter fall. Watch
it skate across the surface,
settle. Take a glass rod.
With the vertical stab
of a tailor's stitch,
plunge through fluid
to the partition
of A and B. Lift
straight and true
the way you lift
a paint-oiled brush.
No drag. Slowly.
Something has congealed
like custard skin
on the rod. A line
leads to the source
between liquids. Balance
the rod on beaker. Twirl
between thumb and finger
like a magicians wand.
Steady. A and B constantly meet
react, are drawn to the rod.
The thread winds even, smooth.

This is nylon.

Helen Clare is from Heywood and has an MA in creative writing from Lancaster University.

Find out more about Helen Clare under 'Weaving Words' on What's On or contact Helen at mosipoet@googlemail.com or through the Museum on Tel: 0161 832 2244.

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