The Poetry Pharmacy: Tried-and-True Prescriptions for the Heart, Mind and Soul

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With its stunning countryside, charming town centre, and world-class attractions, Oswestry offers an eclectic mix of things to see and do. At that point I was about to start my first proper full-time job in London and feeling anxious about how my life was about to change. As a believer in the power and the necessity of poetry, I cheer William Sieghart’s laudable mission to listen to people’s problems and administer a “prescription” in the shape of poem to those affected by what he classifies as “conditions” (mostly ‘spiritual ailments’ as there are, addiction, despair at the absurdity of the world, aging, the emotions connected to love, regret, self-recrimination, heartbreak, depression, isolation, various forms of fear, grief, lethargy, illness, worrying and many, many more - the array of human suffering is wide). That could have been due to the fact that William Sieghart tugged at my heartstrings by including “You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Oscar Hammerstein II (the anthem of Liverpool Football Club) or it could have been due to the fact that they really did make ‘light’ of ‘heavy’ situations. From there it progressed to, after lectures on his own poetry anthology, sitting one-on-one with members of the audience, speaking briefly and "prescribing" specific poems for them.

Since 2012, William has travelled the length and breadth of Britain and beyond meeting people with an issue they're keen to get off their chests. He is chairman of the Somerset House Trust, was commissioned by the government to review libraries and is a pusher – in the best sense – of poetry. Watch casting demonstrations in the foundry and be entertained by fire shows and a stilt walker before the spectacular 18-minute fireworks extravaganza begins at 7:45pm.This is turn led to her using poetry while working with survivors of domestic abuse and with people with dementia. Both the video and the collection display the power of poetry, the way it can comfort us, help us, heal us.

Having finished this collection, it was a great pleasure to listen to the touching testimony of William Sieghart about the project and the power of poetry, in which his love for the Persian poet Hafez shines through. Sieghart, a former chairman of the Arts Council Lottery Panel, founded the Forward Prizes for Poetry in 1992 and National Poetry Day itself in 1994.The Poetry Pharmacy can, he hopes, be consulted as the Victorians might a herbalist and be kept for use in emergencies. From treehouses to shepherd`s huts, there`s a place to stay in Shropshire that`s perfect for everyone.