Trevor O Clochartaigh and Mary Hernon at Poetry for Patience in UHG this year. Photo: David Ruffles

What's on the menu for patients today? Poems, that's what

PATIENTS and staff in a number of Irish hospitals are to receive a ‘menu of poems’ for the day that's in it - Poetry Day 2016.

To celebrate Poetry Day, this menu of poems - called Soul Food - has been distributed throughout hospital wards, waiting rooms and other healthcare settings, including Mayo University Hospital and Sacred Heart Hospital in Castlebar and St. Augustine’s Community Nursing Home in Ballina, for patients, visitors and staff to enjoy today (April 28).

The poetry was selected by award-winning poet Colette Bryce. Bryce visited Ireland for the Cúirt International Festival of Literature, where she read at an event and launched the Poems for Patience series at University Hospital Galway.

Menu of Poems 2016 is produced by Galway University Hospitals Arts Trust in collaboration with Arts and Health Co-ordinators Ireland, Poetry Ireland and HSE Health Promotion and Improvement.

Over 10,000 people in healthcare settings will receive the 2016 menu, which includes poems by Emily Dickinson, Ian Duhig, Louise Glück and Yehuda Amichai. The menu is also available to anyone working in a healthcare facility to print and distribute in their own locations.

Since its conception in 2009, menu of poems has been a positive development in the lives of both patients and those who work in healthcare settings across Ireland. The poetry is circulated on meal trays in hospitals and participating healthcare providers are organising readings and workshops for the day.

Noel Crook, a previous participating poet, said: “What lovely work you do, giving poetry to those who might need it. A beautiful thing!”