'I have loved poetry and music all my life!'

Diana, 62, is housebound and facilitating our online poetry sharing group is a welcome escape and the highlight of her month.

Diana is passionate about poetry and has loved music all her life.  She lives alone in a studio flat and can’t have visitors apart from medics so she came up with the idea of poetry sharing and we jumped at the chance to set up an online group.

Every month, the group reads and discusses poetry and other literature on zoom. Sharing poems transports her temporarily from her situation, she says.  ‘I believe these sharing sessions provide stimulation, education and fun and help keep like-minded people connected to each other, reducing feelings of isolation and increasing wellbeing.’

Inspired by sharing poems with others, Diana even wrote her own to lift our spirits and share the benefits of poetry for wellbeing!

Escape for a while by Diana Bramson

The sadness and madness of the world can make us feel so low,
But I know of a special way to restore a cheerful glow.
Why not share a poem with a friend, break free from life's negative vibe,
Immerse yourself in poetry, it's something a doctor should prescribe!
Any mood of verse can be found - there's dramatic poems and sad ones,
Writing which makes you think, and some jokes and puns.
So much to choose from - any subject, any style
Helping us to escape from bad news, think about something else for a while.
As we read and share poetic works, our minds we are freeing,
And by discovering all kinds of poetry, we can enhance our well-being.