A poem reflecting on the past year for World Poetry Day

  • 18 March 2021

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Painting with a rainbow above the Hospice and members of the team in uniform and the words 'Thank you Frontliners of Arthur Rank Hospice Charity' with a heart

Sunday 21 Match is World Poetry Day and with the anniversary of the first lockdown next week, we have been reflecting on the past year, the changes we’ve all had to make, the loss we have felt and our hopes for a brighter future.

Chris Barker, Our Caring Communities Coordinator (and hospice knitter extraordinaire, leading our Knits of the Round Table group) has penned this beautiful poem to reflect on what this past year has been like for #TeamArthur.

Thank you to all our amazing colleagues for adapting so quickly, our wonderful volunteers (who we miss so much) and of course to you for your continued and incredibly heartening support….

Not the year we planned for,
Its been difficult that’s true,
Separations and restrictions,
Lockdowns and furlough too.

Arthurs Team divided,
Some must stay on site,
Others in their living rooms,
All longing to reunite.

Events we all looked forward to,
should we then abort,
although they couldn’t go as planned,
You still offered your support.

We have embraced the virtual world,
Who knew we’d master Zoom,
Patients kept in contact,
When they can’t be in the room.

You reached out to ask us,
Ways you could assist,
The Community in action,
Armed with a checklist.

Scrubs, patient blankets,
Donations of all kinds,
Messages of gratitude
That really blew our minds.

Not the year we planned for,
Many challenges anew,
But still a lot to celebrate,
And rainbows that shone through