Poetry Health Service

User Feedback…

Sally Anglesea

“I have just had my first experience of
the PHS and I’m slightly lost for words. To receive a prescription of words is just a thing of total beauty and peace and nourishment. Thank you for putting this into the world and for always holding hearts and minds so gently. It is through your careful empathetic, instinctive way of being and sharing that you deeply empower others.”

Bernadette Liptrot

“Thank you for a moment of tranquility.”

Rachel Lewis

“I received my prescription – Claudia Maranhao’s ‘If My Heart Was Mine’ – and it was actually perfect for my mood today. Congratulations on bringing such a brilliant project to life, delighted to be a part of it.”

Shagufta Iqbal

“It’s a thing of so much beauty. The kids loved it too. It’s a perfect antidote to the times.”

Kathryn

“What a great project. Thanks for letting me be a part.”

Valentina Locatelli

“Thank you for the amazing gift you are making to the universe. In a busy day, you gently made me stop and focus on my feelings, as well as reminding me that there should be more poetry, more beauty and more writing in my day-to-day life ( and in the world ). “

Alice Stevens

“Thank you so much for my poetry panacea., it really resonated with me during my self-isolation.“

Carolyn Yates

“A lovely idea. I have just got my prescription poem and, a little like using the I Ching, there are some amazingly resonant and relevant lines in it. I’m caring for my mother in England at the moment so I’m taking your poem cure right now as I listen to Boris on TV. Makes me feel a little better. Thank you for my poem. I shall get sprinkling so others can benefit.”

Karen Davies

“Thank you for a warm interlude in a cold day.”

Ray Leaver

“I love this project!”

Pax Morrigan

“PHS is a brilliant idea! I was administered ‘Love Is A Luminous Insect At The Window’ by Martin Espada. It was very unexpected to stop and think about love in the middle of a stressful day, an overwhelming month. A breath of fresh air! The audio recording was so soothing.”

Helena MacCormack

“I’m writing from Liverpool UK and my haiku was inspired by Hana Lara Haziem’s ‘The Brink’. I had worked myself up into a bad mood before participating in the PHS… and then being gifted this beautiful appeal to walk myself back from ‘the brink’ which I interpreted as feelings of hopelessness and frustration, was exactly what I needed… Your project really helped me put things in perspective today!”

Rachel Mcguinness

“Never written a haiku, what a nice way to start the day.”

Christine Morgan

“The poem that inspired my haiku was Incy Wincy Spiker by Mel Roberts and the colour blue loomed large in my mind as my planned move will put me much closer to the sea which is close to my heart. Loving the Poetry Health Service concept as I often turn to poetry when experiencing different emotions or to capture a mood more precisely.”

Becky Swain

“Thanks for sharing this into the world, it’s just lovely and a warm welcome to poetry. Hope we can all spread it far and wide. “

Joanne Roughton-Arnold

“I have just had such a welcome break from all the busy-ness through your PHS, exactly what I needed so thank you! “

John Sannaee

“Thank you for this experience, which a friend shared with me. It was quite nurturing and inspirational. The poem I was ‘prescribed’ was Tumbling Tigress by Parveen Butt. Thanks again and all the very best with this wonderful project.”

Emma

“Thank you for ‘The Brink’ by Hana Lara Haziem. I collected my prescription after a walk with my two children, when as a lone parent I felt very much alone. The prescription felt as if I was having a hand held out to me.”

Melanie Smith

“Thank you for such a beautiful project!”

Lilli Geissendorfer

“It’s a delight to do, connect with and immediately brought me to such calm and a beautiful poem. Congratulations on getting it off the ground under these very troubling skies.”

Jonnie Plant

“What a lovely thing to participate in and my first attempt at writing a haiku.”

Stephanie Hanson

“Thank you for creating this experience. I plan to return often. Hearing the poem read aloud was such a treat. Your voice a balm. I would not call myself a poet but I do have a fondness for words.”

David Richards

“Thank you for this service. What a beautiful, direct, powerful experience.”

Chloe Jacquet

“I really loved my PHS experience and hope the project reaches lots of people!”

Fergus Wilde

“Thank you, I clicked by chance after seeing a Tweet and didn’t want to spend the time. Then I made myself and was drawn in, thank you for a really engaging and very human experience. The poem you sent me is ‘Love Is A Luminous Insect At The Window’ by Martin Espada. I had never heard of him but the poem is wonderful.”

Carolyn Yates

“A lovely idea. I have just got my prescription poem and, a little like using the I Ching, there are some amazingly resonant and relevant lines in it. I’m caring for my mother in England at the moment so I’m taking your poem cure right now as I listen to Boris on TV. Makes me feel little better. Thank you for my poem. I shall get sprinkling so others can benefit.“

Claudia Maranhao

“It feels great to be part of this project. And how heart warming to see a haiku response to my poem! Thanks for doing this amazing work and creating space for beauty in our lives.”

Martin Conway

“Came across your project today in the Arts Council bulletin. Can I say what a great idea and a timely boost! I’ve shared it with my work colleagues at the charity I work for and will be sharing it with fellow volunteers in the community cooperative I’m part of.”