The Poetry Takeaway
‘A burger van that serves up poetry’ is the line Michael, The Poetry Takeaway’s front man, gives to any interested passerby. In partnership with and generously funded by The Culture Mile BID, the van and 12 poets spent 3 days in Barts Square listening to stories and creating personalised poetry for patients, staff and the wider hospital community.
The purpose of the project was to spread joy through poetry; improving the wellbeing of those who participated, exposing people to the art of poetry when they might not otherwise access it, and creating meaningful, positive tokens that can be treasured by those who receive them. Participants would have a chat with one of the poets and discuss what they would like to hear - whether that is a poem for themselves, for a loved one, or for the rest of the team in the office! The poets would then spend the next hour or so transforming the words they were given into a bespoke poem. When the participant came to pick up their piece, the poet would ask if they wanted it read to them, and so often, they would.
Studies have shown that reading, writing and sharing poetry can help people cope with loneliness or isolation and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. To have this residency within a hospital setting offers a respite to those whose day might be quite stressful.
“It was almost like a gift I wasn’t expecting. I had a nice chat with Georgie and she articulated what I had to say so lovingly. I’ve been on such a journey, a terrible one and one of self love. This poem has summed up my journey and like I said, it was a gift.”
Outcomes and evaluation
The Poetry Takeaway created over 120 poems for the hospital community at Barts. Reactions and feedback to the project were overwhelmingly positive, with many asking to see the van return for longer periods of time and also seeking out where the van would be next.
Based on this initial pilot residency, there are plans to bring the van back on a longer residency and in some of our community hospitals. The longer residency would facilitate return visits to hospitals, more intimate, bespoke poetry workshops on wards and an opportunity for staff to also participate in poetry workshops.
“Got my first poem yesterday and took it straight back to the other junior doctors in my team and read it to them. They were as speechless as I was- it’s beautifully written. I’m going to frame if and keep it on my desk as a reminder of the curiosity and wonder of life.
The NHS needs things like this. It’s these sort of projects that remind people that they are people (and it’s why I’m back for a second poem today!)”
Barts staff, Perioperative Medicine
Funder
Partner
“This needs to be here all the time. ”
