Welcome to the Poetry Pharmacy

At the Poetry Pharmacy, we prescribe poems for conditions of the heart, the mind, and the soul.

Whether you’re feeling lost or full of longing, anxious or simply curious, there’s a poem waiting for you – a small but powerful tonic to relieve whatever it is that you’re carrying. Our three books offer gentle doses of poetic care, with verses for every emotion: grief, hope, joy, restlessness, love, and everything hidden in between. Many tell us they turn to them like companions, finding solace, clarity, and hope in their pages.

The Poetry Pharmacy began in a small tent at a literary festival in Cornwall with just two armchairs and a prescription pad. What started as a quiet experiment quickly became something much bigger: a growing movement of poetic care. People queued for hours to talk, to be heard, and to receive poems hand-picked for their personal struggles. The simple act of listening, of sharing, of offering the right words at the right time, felt immensely powerful. And it continues to. 

Since then, the Poetry Pharmacy has travelled the country, visiting festivals, libraries, and communities. We’ve learned that poetry can meet people where they are, no matter who they are. And over time, we’ve seen again and again how words, when carefully chosen and honestly given, can be a soothing balm for the harder moments of life. 

We’re now very proud to be working with the NHS and partner charities on our outreach projects that bring light, colour, and healing words to A&E waiting rooms, GP surgeries, hospital corridors, and care centres. It’s our way of offering moments of calm and solace in places so often overrun by fear, anxiety and anticipation. 

And for those who love the magic of a live performance, our events are something truly special. We host evenings where brilliant actors breathe life into the poems, interpreting them with feeling, humour, and depth. These gatherings are always warm, thoughtful, and full of joy.

So whether you visit us for a personal prescription, lose yourself in one of our books, join us for a live show, or are interested in how we can help in your professional environment, we hope you find something that speaks to you. Something that helps. Something that stays.

After all, as one poem we often prescribe reminds us:

I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astonishing light of your own being.