The art, the poetry, and the generosity of David Milligan-Croft

Dear Reader,

It is with great pleasure that I introduce to you the art and the poetry of David Milligan-Croft as well as his generosity and relentless work of helping others. Please read his bio and poetry, enjoy his art, and the art of those who David helps and you will understand what I am talking about. Literary Revelations is very proud of this feature.

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Bio

David was born in Yorkshire, England and studied Graphic Design at Jacob Kramer College of Art in Leeds. He has lived in England, Scotland, New Zealand, Italy and Ireland working as a Creative Director, Art Director and Writer for the Advertising Industry, where he has won over 100 awards for creativity and effectiveness.

David was shortlisted for The Guardian TV Pitch Review for his comedy-drama series, The Bible, II. David was also shortlisted for the Independent on Sunday Short Story Competition in 1997. His short story, Woman’s Best Friend, also appears in the IOS New Stories published by Bloomsbury. His screenplay, of the same name, was optioned by Irish production company Nomad Productions in 1999. He was shortlisted for the Mind Short Story Competition in 2019 with his story Ten Orbits of the Sun.

His poetry has been widely published in Ireland, Britain and the US in anthologies and periodicals such as: Lancaster Litfest; GM Words of Hope; The Greenhouse Magazine; Literary Revelations; The Literary Review; Envoi; Cyphers; Electric Acorn; W.P. Monthly; Lifelines 3; The Haiku Quarterly; The Pickled Body and The Amnesty International Anthology, Human Rights Have No Borders. He came 3rd in the CN/SALC micro poem competition in 2013.

David is the author of six feature-length screenplays, six short films, a collection of short stories, two poetry collections and two novels.

David now works on an acute adult mental health ward as a Technical Instructor, where he utilises art therapy with patients as a tool to enable mental wellbeing, aid relaxation and develop coping strategies.

Engaging in arts activities for mental wellbeing is about the process, not the result.

When a person engages in art their brain releases dopamine regardless of whether the resulting work is ‘good’ or not. It is the process of creating something that gives the benefit, not the end result. Engaging in the arts improves brain plasticity and increases neural connections.

“Studies have shown that expressing themselves through art can help people with

depression and anxiety. And doing so has been linked to improved memory, reasoning,

and resilience in healthy older people”. -The Healing Power of Art’, Harvard University.

Taking part in art activities is relaxing, mindful and meditative. It can be cathartic and expressive. It can develop new skills or rekindle old ones. It can unlock skills patients didn’t know they had. There are lots of very practical reasons why we might use arts activities to observe and gain insight into a patient’s illness and the level of their occupational performance, such as fine motor skills, comprehension, concentration and social skills.

David likes to utilise arts in all its forms; painting, drawing, creative writing, photography, music, sculpting, printing, collage and graffiti. Exploring as many techniques as possible enables patients to find something they enjoy. Not only is this a continuation of developing new-found skills, but it helps continue their therapy and aid in avoiding relapse and readmission to hospital.

Obviously, art isn’t for everyone. But one thing is for sure, when we let go of the desire for a perfect end result and simply get lost in the process, that is where the real magic happens.

David is a trustee/director of arts for mental wellbeing charity, Arc in Stockport, England.

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Poetry by David Milligan-Croft

You know nothing of the darkness.

You were born into this world
on a glorious summer’s morning,
when the days are long

and the air is filled
with the scent of honeysuckle.

And you left it before Selene
had a chance to drive her golden chariot
over the horizon to welcome the night.

You know nothing of the darkness
that came before, or after, you were born.

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I thought I was a bird.

I think about you less and less,
which is a blessing, considering the years
I have spent in myocardial purgatory.

Finally, you are slipping
from my consciousness,
into the maze of memories.

To be consigned to a vault
marked: All hope abandon,
ye who enter here.

It was my own transgression.
I climbed to the top of the mountain,
which you warned me not to do.

But I kept on ascending,
until I reached the summit.
And the vista took my breath away.

You cautioned me to step back
from the precipice, but I would not listen.
As I beheld the entire universe spread before me,

I was consumed by the ecstasy of merely knowing you.
I thought I was a bird,
I thought I could fly.

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Eating with the crows.

I took some stale bread out to feed the crows.
It was raining, so I didn’t think it would bloat them
if it was already wet. I tore pieces off
and scattered them on the grass.

They usually waited until I went back inside
before leaving the safety of the branches.
I dusted my hands and glanced around,
then went back to my basement apartment.

A few minutes later, I was standing at the sink
washing the dishes, when a crow landed
on the windowsill in front of me
with a piece of bread in its mouth.

It dropped the bread on the sill, pecked a piece off
and ate it whilst looking at me with its black marble eye.
When it had finished the bread it flew off
and returned momentarily, with another piece.

My heart was thrumming like a hummingbird’s.
I wanted to slide the window open to take
This newfound friendship to the next level.
But I was fearful I might frighten it away.

Sometimes, it’s better to do nothing
than to show how you really feel.

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Art by David Milligan-Croft

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Works of his patients at the ward

Thank you for visiting us.

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