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

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This anthology of anthologies draws on the ten Forward Books of Poetry published to accompany the prizes between 2001 and 2010. The Poetry Pharmacy is exactly what it states in the title. This short read contains poems from a range of authors, all dealing with different subjects, such as bereavement, obsessive love, self image and self acceptance and various others. This is the second audio book I have ever listened to. The first was We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda ngozi Adichie. Evening walks had me trying this out, in favour of repetitive lyrics, or rhythmic footsteps and labored breathing. It seems to work for me.

The Forwards are among the world’s most coveted poetry honours. They have been awarded annually since 1992 for the Best Collection, Best First Collection and Best Single Poem published in Britain and Ireland, and the roster of winning, shortlisted and highly commended poets regularly juxtaposes familiar canonical names with fresh voices.Truly a marvellous collection … There is balm for the soul, fire for the belly, a cooling compress for the fevered brow, solace for the wounded, an arm around the lonely shoulder – the whole collection is a matchless compound of hug, tonic and kiss’ Stephen Fry The world has reopened and so has the Poetry Pharmacy: the powerful final instalment in the hugely beloved series. The second volume in William Sieghart’s poetry pharmacy project follows the same concept and premise as volume one - The Poetry Pharmacy: Tried-and-True Prescriptions for the Mind, Heart and Soul - in which William Sieghart administers a “prescription” in the shape of poem to those affected by what he classifies as “conditions” – as there are romantic dilemma’s, overthinking, second-guessing, letting go, fear (of change, of mortality, of loss), feeling lost, bombardment by minutiae, being browbeaten, feeling isolated, neediness shyness (would it be wrong to suggest this collection might particularly appeal to those among us which are of the more introverted inclination?).

Poems of the Decade brings together more than one hundred poems from the many thousands submitted to the Forward Prizes for Poetry in the first decade of the 21st century. Sometimes only a poem will do. These poetic prescriptions and wise words of advice offer comfort, delight and inspiration for all; a space for reflection, and that precious realisation – I’m not the only one who feels like this. Then all the small securities you built about your house, your desk, your calendar are blown like straws; and momentarily, as if a scent of ivy or the earth had opened up a childhood door, you pause,Sieghart explains in his introduction how the idea of his Poetry Pharmacy arose and developed, following with a useful short note on "how to read poetry". He then introduces each poem under a heading for the "conditions" for which he would describe them, and how a particular reading might shed light upon the causes of, or alleviate the feelings of, distress. This is an ok collection of 56 poems. Many of them will be familiar to anyone who takes a general interest in poetry, such as Kipling’s ‘If’ and works by Maya Angelou, Hafez and Rumi. I would have liked a few more surprises though, and for Sieghart to have pulled out a few hidden gems, but I suppose these poems are always popular. It just didn’t feel I was discovering anything. These annual anthologies of the poems in the running for the Forward Prizes remain the best way of encountering the richness that new poetry has to offer.’ Daily Telegraph. Thank you very much Mwana for adding to the pleasure of this collection by pointing me to this wonderful

A matchless compound of hug, tonic and kiss' - Stephen Fry on William Sieghart's bestselling Poetry Pharmacy I liked the concept and premise of this variegated anthology a lot. A fine poem a day keeps the doctor away. 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). As a devotee and promotor of poetry, having founded National Poetry Day in Britain, he understood that suffering is the access point to poetry for a lot of people and that such offers a momentum to introduce people to poetry as they are ready to open their ears, hearts and minds – and find poetry as a balm, a comfort, a smile, a succour, or simply a help to embrace one’s feelings in certain situations (infatuation, grief) The poems are presented in five categories, touching on mental and emotional wellbeing, motivations, self-image and self-acceptance, the world and other people, love and loss. The project flourished and grew. The full history is in the book (which in the U.S. in e-book form is entitled The Poetry Remedy). I realised that we were on to something. Suffering is the access point to poetry for a lot of people: that’s when they open their ears, hearts and minds. Being there with the right words for someone in that moment – when something’s happened, when they’re in need – is a great comfort, and sometimes creates a love of poetry that can last a lifetime. These annual anthologies of the poems in the running for the Forward Prizes remain the best way of encountering the richness that new poetry has to offer.’ Daily Telegraph Keep up to dateOne of the poems that resonated most with me was Alice Walker’s Expect Nothing, replete with intuitive wisdom which offers seemingly simple but powerful advice how to live life lighter and in a more independent way. I humbly agree with Sieghart that much of our anger with the world and with others comes from disappointed neediness. Imagine if everything this poem claimed were true. If we measured our lives by our hearts’ throbs – by our excitements, our longings and our pangs of misery – just think how differently we’d do things. We’d take risks for the sake of taking them, and fall in love for the thrill of it. We’d sacrifice ourselves for others with ease and grace, because in doing so we’d also be enriching ourselves. I’ve got lots of couplets like that which hit me often – just relating to day-to-day events or what someone’s said, or a thought – it just gives a delightfully beguiling resonance to life. A way of understanding something in a different way, in a different light.” And there are some superb poems, for me some new ones, old friends and a few regulars. There's a lovely variety of poetry modern and traditional, which includes works by Phillip Larkin, Maya Angelou, Rumi, William Carlos Williams, Whitman, Carver, cummings, Millay, Mary Oliver, Berry, Keats and Cope. Poetry is soul food so of course some will taste better on your tongue than others.