The Poetry Pharmacy Forever: New Prescriptions to Soothe, Revive and Inspire

Review 1
I rarely read poetry so it was lovely to have received a copy as I may not have picked this up to read otherwise. I found it enjoyable and the poems accessible so it was good to pop in and out of the book.
Review 2
This collection contains poems from a range of authors and the poems have themes such as bereavement, love (both of others and ourselves) and more. The book allowed us the chance to select our favourite poems to share and discuss together. Some we had different interpretations of. William Sieghart goes to events and listens to people’s troubles and then suggests a poem that might help them which is a brilliant concept. I enjoyed the experience.
Review 3
A light and accessible anthology of poems – my favourite selection was the self image/self acceptance section as I enjoyed reading the poems selected for this.
Review 4
This is a good introduction to poems written by lots of poets based on topics – some felt heavy but the poems would hopefully comfort someone in these moments. I feel like there is a poem for everyone.

This is a wonderful little anthology of poems, categorised into themes for you to choose from depending on your mood or requirements. Described as prescriptions to soothe, revive and inspire, this collection certainly does that. My favourite themes were those I felt were written specifically for me (procrastination being the main one!).

I will be gifting copies of this to a few people for Christmas. It is a perfect and thoughtful little gift that will undoubtedly be appreciated, even by those who claim not to be readers of poetry (myself included).

I received this book from the publisher via Reading Groups for All in return for an honest review.

I do not usually go out of my way to read poetry - my English Lit degree and subsequent teaching experience made poetry a chore - but I was intrigued by the concept behind this book: poems chosen to help the reader find relief from problems in their lives. I was not too sure what to expect, but on unwrapping the book, I could not wait to start reading. The cloth-bound hardback is a thing of beauty; very tactile, perfectly proportioned, great typography (as if it were an 18th-century Herbal), and bright pink. It is not a flouncy ephemeral pink but a vibrant pink that instantly makes you smile and pick it up, promising reading pleasure.
I’m happy to say that reading the book is indeed a delight. There is a short introduction and a history of the project - this is the third and final book in the series. William Sieghart believes that there is an even greater need for poetry now: to heal our souls and help us deal with the impact of COVID on our lives. We’re more than ever aware of the importance of looking after our mental health, and I think reading this book is the perfect way to reflect and regroup. It also comes with his recommendations on reading the poems. I particularly liked his insistence on re-reading and re-visiting poems at different times and seeing how our understanding and responses change.
There are many ways to read this book. You can read it from start to finish or flick through it and find a problem or issue that matches your own mood. What makes this poetry collection unique is that each specially chosen poem follows Sieghart’s own advice on a topic. They are beautifully presented; Sieghart’s words on the left-hand side and the poems on the right. The book is perfect for dipping into or having a mindful minute of contemplation - many of them would be ideal starting points for some mindful meditation, Louise Gluck’s The Undertaking being a perfect example.
It is the perfect gift in these stressful times - a treat for yourself or your loved ones. It's definitely one I'll revisit and read again.