Living Well poems

We recently asked patients, carers and colleagues to use poetry, art and photography to describe their experience of our Living Well Services.

Living Well by Graham  

I come along to Living Well

At the Hospice on Thursdays

Here we find all the staff

Help us in many ways

 

Gemma and her lovely team

Will put us all at ease

Then we have the volunteers

Who make the coffees and the teas

 

We have talks and exercises

There’s singing, music too

Plus there’s lots of other things

For all of us to do

 

The Hospice has a Bistro

At lunchtime I go there

The food is really very nice

And the prices are quite fair

 

They have people there to help you

Who will always try and please

I will have a pot of tea

Jacket potato filled with cheese

 

The Hospice is a lovely place

And I want to say thank you

To all the staff and volunteers for everything they do

---

The Bistro by Graham

The Hospice here at Arthur Rank

Is the best as you will see

Serving cold drinks and hot chocolate

Or a lovely pot of tea

 

There’s coffee, cakes and sandwiches

And other little snacks

Like bags of crips and chocolate bars

Displayed on wooden racks

 

How about a baked potato

Now these will always please

Served with different fillings

For example grated cheese

 

There’s soup, quiche and salad

Or perhaps a cottage pie

Plus many other dishes

Here for you to try

 

Like fish and chips on Fridays

You’ll find this one a winner

Or come along on Sundays

For a really nice roast dinner

 

This is just a small selection

There is indeed much more

Please come along and see us

We’re open nine till four

 

You’ll find the staff and volunteers

Work hard for you and me

Helping to raise money

For the Hospice Charity

---

The wife and sister-in-law of one of our patients subsequently penned these beautiful poems, which they have given permission for us to share with you.

We think they really capture what the service is all about.

Living Well

by Bronwen Percival

I need to feel safe,

I need to feel safe and secure.

I need to live what life I have left

Happily and meaningfully,

Without my terminal diagnosis hanging like a black cloud

Over me.

 

I need comfort.

I need comfort and support.

I need to talk and be listened to

By someone who understands my fears and hopelessness

And dread for what lies ahead.

 

I don’t need pity.

I need to feel valued and useful.

I need to concentrate on what I can do

Not what I can’t do.

I need to feel and acknowledge my emotions

And not bury them inside of me.

 

I need peace of mind.

I need peace of mind and some good practical advice.

There are a mountain of things going round in my head

That need sorting.

 

Will, Power of Attorney, funeral wishes, end of life preferences,

And I just need to get these sorted,

Put them to the back of my mind

And then I can get on with living.

 

So many needs,

So little time.

So little energy and motivation

To tackle this all on my own.

Who can help me?

 

The team at Arthur Rank!

 

I now feel safe and secure

I have comfort and support

I can talk and be listened to by people who understand

I feel valued and useful

I can cope with my emotions

I have peace of mind

I am not dying

I am Living Well.

---

What is the Meaning of ‘Living Well?’

by Karen Powell

Amazing

Restorative

Therapies.

Hearing and sharing.

Unburdening my fears.

Reflecting on my life.

 

Reassuring

And sympathetic

Nurses.

Knowing I am in safe hands.