June Williams has PH and finds reading poetry helps her feel more uplifted, particularly during periods of stress.

“I find reading aloud helpful as I live on my own. I still have poems in my head from 60 years ago, and they pop up from time to time. A lot of them come from my childhood, from my father, who loved to read funny ones to me. I find reading poetry out loud very uplifting and at times of stress, I get the poetry books out.

I took my little book of poems in with me when I had to stay at my specialist centre for three days and I have read poetry to other people on the ward when I have been in hospital too.”

This is one of June’s favourite poems to read aloud and is very appropriate during these challenging times:

KEEP A POEM IN YOUR POCKET – by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers

Keep a poem in your pocket
And a picture in your head
And you’ll never feel lonely
At night when you’re in bed.

The little poem will sing to you
The little picture bring to you
A dozen dreams to dance to you
At night when you’re in bed.

So – –
Keep a picture in your pocket
And a poem in your head
And you’ll never feel lonely
At night when you’re in bed.