Museum of Science and Industry

Further poems created during the workshop with visually impaired visitors can be downloaded from the list at the right of this page.

When We Think of Cotton

When I think about Cotton I think of white fluffy clouds,
I think of the plant itself, I think of the fluffy bits
that flew in the air with a great wind.

When I think of cotton I think of weaving sheds
young children in the heat, the noise, the speed.

When I think of cotton I think of the nice cotton dress to wear.
I think of clothing, like from underwear through to raincoats
When I think of cotton I think of my Nana
sewing my jeans back together after I fell off my bike.

Sometimes it makes me sad when I think what they had to do
to make this cotton for the cotton barons.
I think of the money that Manchester must have made
from exporting. I think of slavery.

I think of cotton bobbins. I think of circles
because they are all wrapped tightly bobbins.
I think of handkerchiefs and sheets and white, bright white.
I think of the sheets in hospitals.
I think of babies and the softness of the skin.

I think cotton is the best.

By Joyce, Margaret, Oni, Christine, Adam, Drue and Helen