Poetry should be a part of every modern hospital, not just as something to keep patients amused. It's a powerful force, which can help us through the darkest times.
- Julia Darling
The Poetry Cure was published by Bloodaxe Books on April 28th. This anthology of poems by well known and novice poets was edited for Bloodaxe and the English School at Newcastle University by Cynthia Fuller and Julia Darling. Emma Holliday has supplied the cover painting. Julia said: "This is an absolutely beautiful and vital publication for anyone who has ever worked in poetry and health. I hope it is everywhere, by every bed, in every patient's house, and in every doctor's surgery. It should be compulsory reading for every medical student. BUY IT!!!!"
The Poetry Cure is being launched on 12th September: details on the home page.
The Poetry Cure is for everyone who is living with illness, physical or mental, their own or someone else's. There are poems on the experience of hospital and dealing with doctors, poems about pain, about witnessing the suffering of others, and poems to uplift the spirit.
Poetry can give us metaphors and images to help us understand our feelings and communicate them to people around us. This is a book that may inspire you to write poetry, and also help you to find order in the chaos of ill health. "By giving us words, poetry can help cure us."
The collection includes Julia's poem, How To Behave With The Ill, which has been made into a postcard. You can also download and print a copy for yourself.
The Poetry Cure is published by Bloodaxe Books, price £8.95, ISBN 1-85224-690-1.
The Poetry Cure shows how poetry, with its metaphors, can reflect back what we are privately feeling and help us express and bear what is happening to us. This beautiful and humane anthology should be on the waiting room of every ward.
Ruth Padel, writing in The Independent
One is not always glad to see an editor's work included, but here the response is delight [...] In every sense her last poems are a shining example.
Michael Standen in Other Poetry 28
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Created by Julia Darling and Cornwell Internet. |
Last updated on 10th October 2005 by Roger Cornwell.
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