What Were You Wearing?

A performance poetry piece.

Listen to a performance of What were you wearing?

In 2020, a young 17 year old from England - Edward Atkin - reached out to ask my permission to use my poem “What I was Wearing” in a musical composition he had created with a group of his fellow high school friends. According to Edward, the initial inspiration for the piece came from a social media thread which included some of the things that were said to sexual assault victims by judges during actual trials. As he read the horrific comments - some of which are read during the musical composition - he felt that there was a piece of music to be written. While doing research for the music, he discovered the “What were you wearing” art instillations and subsequently my poem “What I was Wearing,” which Edward felt captured the message that he wanted to convey with his music. In the composition, my poem is read by then 17 year old Jodie. The piece went on to win the 2020 BBC Young Composer’s Award. So proud of the brilliant and courageous work of this group of young people.

Original music by Edward Atkin.
Based on the poem “What I Was Wearing” by Mary Simmerling (read the poem here).
Animation and video production by Mary Simmerling, Write Where We Belong.

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