To celebrate Poetry Day today (Thursday ) a menu of poems called "Soul Food" will be distributed throughout Irish hospital wards, waiting rooms and other healthcare settings for patients, visitors and staff to enjoy.
The poetry was selected by award winning poet Colette Bryce who read at the Cúirt International Festival of Literature 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 the HSE's Health Promotion and Improvement service.
More than 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 people 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 Poetry Day.
