In Touch - Keith Jarrett

Aseriesofpoemscreatedbystaffandpatientsfrom ImperialCollegeHealthcareNHSTrustduringthepandemic

During2020-2021ImperialHealthCharityworkedincollaborationwithpoet KeithJarrettonaremotepoetinresidenceproject.

Inresponsetothefirstlockdown,thecharity’sbusyartsengagement programmecametoastandstill.Manyworkshopswereredesignedtobe deliveredonline,andnewcommissionswerecuratedtorespondtotheimpact ofCOVID-19. Aswestartedtocurateremoteprojects,itbecamecleartousthatwriting, whetherthroughworkshopsoractivitybooks,wasanartformwhichcould transcendlockdowns,helpingusreacheachotherandworkthroughour unprecedentedsituations Consequently,webegantheprocessof commissioningKeithasapoetinresidence,withanaimtoworkwithpatients andstaffacrosstheTrusttoexploreandidentifysharedideasandrecurring themesduringthepandemic

Overthecourseof12months,Keithworkedwith195membersofourhospital communitythroughZoomworkshops–fromnursingteamstoadministrative stafftoadolescentpatientsinthecommunity.Duringthesesessions,Keith deliveredworkshopsencouragingstaffandpatientstothinkcreativelyandto collectivelyexploretheirexperiencesofthepandemicthroughwrittenword.

KeithJarrettisawriter,educatorandinternationalpoetryslamchampion.He wasselectedfortheInternationalLiteraryShowcasebyValMcDermidasoneof 10mostoutstandingLGBTwritersintheUK.Hisworkhasincludedbilingual performancesandinstallations,andhisplay,SafestSpotinTown,whichwas airedonBBCFour.HavingrecentlycompletedhisPhDatBirkbeckUniversity,he isfinishinghisfirstnovel.Selah,hispoetrycollection,waspublishedin2017.

Thisbookshowcasespoemsproducedbybothstaffandpatientsduringthis period.Thefirstpoem,entitled‘InTouch’,isasuper-poemcreatedbyKeith Jarrett.Thispoemwasinspiredbytheworkcreatedbyourstaffandpatients, distillingthesharedideasandrecurringthemes.

InTouch

Atthebeginningofthisnewtunnel,wefeltourway

Forthefamiliar:armstosteadyouruncertainsteps, Theechooffriends’voices,aconspiringsmile,asign Alongthecorridor,thesenseofourcollectivebreath

Heldinhope.Itwaseasytoforgetthewarmcolours

Anewdaybrings,butweextendedourhandstowards Tomorrow,rubbedgelinourpalms,huggedtheair, Lookedforwardtothedaywecouldembraceagain.

Foroneyear,yourfacewasarectangle

Beamingfromtheothersideofanocean.

Foranother,wewouldonlyholdhands

Inourdreams.Welearnedtosyncmovies Andmakeplanswithourfingerscrossed.

Hopewasarainbowwegluedtothedark. Wefolloweditsarctoapromisingfuture. Weworeourcouragelikeablueapron.

Mycouragewearsablueapronandhasasmile

Displayedonalanyardandashimmerofred lipstickbehindmymask.Restfeelslikeadream away.Dayafternewdayarrives,andwithithope. Mycouragespanswards,interpretsitscolours

inadifferentway Sometimesmycouragehelps meextendahand,squeezeashoulder,worknights

Attheendofeverytunnel,itadjuststonewlight

KeithJarrett

Myblueisnotyourblue

Yourblueistheclearsky

Orthewavesofthecalmingseas.

Yourblueissomeone'smesmerisingeyes

Orperhapsthewinterbreeze.

Myblueismysecondskin

Myworkwear,mypricklyscrubs.

Myblueisonthedesktopscreens

Atthedoctors'&nurses'hubs.

Myblueflowsthroughmypens

Andscribblesmedicinesoncharts

Myblueisthegloves,theneedles

Thesyringesandtheplasticcarts

Yourredisnotmyred

Yourredisagardenofrosesinbloom

Orthecarpetthatyourfilmstarswalk

Yourredisthedressyouwear

Orthelipsthatglowwhenyoutalk.

Myredisbloodthatflowsout

Throughthearteriesandtheveins

Ortheredlights,thealarmsandbleeps

Ofmonitorsorambulancevans.

Myredisthepricksandscars

ThebruisesandthebumpsIget

AsItrytosavethebreaths

OfstrangersthatIhadnevermet.

Yourwhiteisnotmywhite.

Yourwhiteisaweddinggown Orthemarvelsofthesnow.

Yourwhiteisascoopoficecream Orperhapsadiamondnecklace'sglow.

MywhiteistheshroudIhate Or'propofol'thatIlovesomuch.

Mywhiteisthegenericpill Orthecottonswabsyouseldomtouch.

Myyellowisnotyouryellow.

Youryellowisthesombresun Orthedaffodilsinyouryard.

Youryellowisthesummerdrink Ortheminiononyourlanyard.

Myyellowisasign

Offailingliverinyoureye

Oryoururinetellingme

Yourkidneysareabouttodie.

Mycolorsarenotyourcolors

Myrainbowisdifferenttoo

Sodon'tmindmesayingit

Myblueisnotyourblue

DrLubainaBahar

Rainbow

Underneaththerainbowisthenations’thanksandgratitude, Underneaththegratitudeisfearandnotwantingittobeme, Above thenotwantingittobemeisthefearofthenation, UnderneaththefearofthenationtheNHSholdsthesafetyofusall, HangingovertheNHS……..

Hope

Thewindandthesunandthebeacharemorefun

Allthesethingssoontocome

Yogafriends allonZoom-holidaysstillingloom

Inthemeantimevegancookingandbakingcakesreallymakesalotofsense

Findyourpurpose,findyourcalmandthebestisyettocome

Thelightthatshinestoobrightistheretomakeitright.

Itbrightenssoulwhichisyourworld.

Itmakestofindaperfectspot.

ElzbietaNestorowicz

BeckyArmstrong

‘WhenwillIseeyouagain,whenwillwesharepreciousmoments?’

TheThreeDegrees

TheWreath

Amy,mydaughter,madeawreath.

Sherodeittomeonherneckonabicycle,tome,forChristmas

Itisbeautiful

Witheucalyptus,berries,orangeandlemons(bakedinheroven),spraysofgreen.

Mydaughtermadeawreath

Joy,wonder,griefandsadness

Katie,myyoungerdaughterswaminthecoldseainBrightonwithKevinon

Christmasday(Ihavethevideo).Nopresentsforthem,noparents,nowreath;buta wrapofsadnessandanger.

Mydaughtermadeawreath

Ithangs(still)inmyloungefading,losingitsscent,driedoutandstillmagnificent.A thingofbeauty,alongingforconnection,asymboloflossandthepainof separation.Theessenceofcreativityandthefragilityoflife.

Mydaughtermadeawreath

‘WhenwillIseeyouagain,whenwillwesharepreciousmoments?’

Theyearoftherat

Onmywayhome,walkinginthedark

Ioftenhearrustlingbehindthehedgesinthepark

Iponder,andthenitcomestome,itsrats

Scuttlingabout,lookingforfood,someasbigascats

Sowhyaretheresomanyinourcitiesandtowns?

Youcanevenseemthemwhentravellingontheunderground

IwouldhavelikedtohavebeenthatpipermanfromHamlinwithhispipe

Andleadthemallontoarattownsuitedtotheirtype

Nowwhodoyouthinkistoblameforhavingsomanyratsaround?

WellI’lltellyou,it’sushumanswhoareusingourearthasadumpingground Ratsarenotlikedatallbutareintelligentcreatures

Ifonlytheycouldbecomemaneaters

Andgetridofafewofthosewhocallthemselveshumanbeings

Butwhoarebeyondcaringfornatureandthelandaround.

Insteadwethinkwearebigbyputtingdownpoisonandbait

Thinkingthatwilldestroythesecreatures,theirbabiesandmates

Butwhenyounextseeanotherrodentbigandfat

Justthink,onedayyoumightcomebackintheafterlife–asarat!

AnitaRingsell

Lockdown2021

Whoknewlockdownwouldlastthislong.Whenthisisallover,oratleastrelaxed,I ammostlookingforwardto:

Goingoutwithfriendsandfamily,thejoyofjustsittingandlisteningtothehustleand bustleofcitylife.Thenoise,thebackgroundmusictolife.HowImissgoingforameal outandjustwalkingintoabarwithoutreservation.

MeetingpeopletosharestoriesoflifebeforeandafterCOVID,justtobenormal, whateverthatmaybe?Isnormal,beingathomewithoutreleaseorescape?Is normal,goingtoworkandseeingotherswhohaveriskedtheirlivestogetthere?

Travelplanswithbucketlists,summerfunawaytoplacesyouwishtosee.Thestress ofrushseemedtopaleintoinsignificanceofthissurreality.

Willweeverbeabletohugandgreetpeoplethewayweusedtodo?Orwillwebe more “stiffupperlipped”thanbefore?Beingabletobreatheagain,withouttheneed formasksandgels.Goingintoshopswithoutridiculeofforgetting. Nightsout,thethingswelove,family,friends,whenwillthisallend?

AnneMoutadjer

UnderneaththerainbowisourteamtheNHS.

Underneaththerainbowisthatsuffocatingfeelingoffear.

Underneathit'sdarknessit’seasytoforgetit'sbrightwarmcolours.

UnderneaththerainbowIcan'tevenhugthosethatarescared.

Hangingoverbeyondtherainbow,isthatdarkrainycloud.

Underneaththerainbowareintelligentpeople.

Underneaththerainbowbuildingavisionforthefuture.

Underneaththerainbowweallsitwaiting.

Underneaththerainbowwilljusttaketime.

MarionOng

Acollaborativepoembyyoungpeoplefromourhaematologyservice

Homefeelslikeademandinglaptopwithunreademailsstackingup homefeelslikeasoft,friendly(needy)cat

Homefeelslikeoverwateredplants,crispingattheedges homefeelslikethestrongdoorthatstandsfirmtokeepthecoldout homefeelsliketheessentialsquaremetalps4

HomeisMyguitarshelpingmewithmymentalhealthandtheykeepmesittinginmy ownworld.

homefeelslikeamugofhotchocolatewithmarshmallowsonthetop! homefeelslikemydramaticpeacelily(plant)thatneedsconstantwatering homefeelsreallycold,whileIfeellikeacouchpotato homefeelslikepeace

HomefeelslikemyMumsdeliciousspicyjollofriceandchicken

Thepandemicandme, Sidebyside,stiffandlabouredmovements,dryandfatigued Walkingtowardthedoor,seemsadreamaway, Ihopetoonedayfeelcomfortabletofeeltheoutsideaironmyskin,breathwithout questionorconcern, Whisperingcomfortingwordstomyisolatedself.,

Maskingthedistress

Welcometothenormthatiseverchanging, Bringmebacktothesurface,feelingthefamiliarpavementonceagain,

Anxietyriddensteps,

Ifeelchildhoodexcitementofputtinglipstickonanddecidingwhattowear, Thinkingofputtinglipstickwithouthavingtoworryaboutstain/makingamarkon thefacemask,sothatisohsoneed,

Iwouldneverfeelthesame, andIlikeit.

Imfree bynotbeingthesame, Imsayinggoodbyetome, goodbyetothethingsthatwillneverbethesame.

I’mgoingtoburntheminbombfireonthenottinghillcarnival

listeningbobmarleyonmyheadphones

“Oneworld”,ifheonlyknew!

ifIonlyknew!

imgonnadanceonthestreets

Imgonnarubmybodywithstrangers

hugthemandsharetheirdrinks

thesuninmyface

dancinginthestreetsofnottinghill

JavierCalatrava

Chaosensuedourundisturbedlives

Likeahurricanewithnoweatherwarning

Anavalanchedescendingontothepeoplebelow Newschannelssuddenlyspewingnumbersandwords

Confusionreigns,adeercaughtinheadlights

Constantperplexityofriddlesandconundrums

Anationplungingintoanimmeasurableabyss

Misinformation,Chinesewhispers

Howarewegoingtoovercomethis?

MahvishRazzaq

GaspingforaBreath

BeforeIgotontheventilator Ineverknewhowimportantitwas Tobreathe.

Beforetheyputmeincoma Ineverpaidattention Tobeingconscious.

BeforeIlostmytasteandsmell

Iignoredthefragranceofnatureandtasteofwater. Beforeallmybloodwasrunthroughmachines Iwasindifferenttothelifewithin.

BeforeIgotatubeinmythroat Ineveradmiredmyvoice,myspeech.

BeforeIhadmyeyesclosed Ineveradoredtheshadesofsunset.

BeforeIsaidgoodbyetomyfamily Ineversaid‘Iloveyou’enough.

Andnowit’stimetogo Far,faraway.

IfonlyIcouldgetabreath,thereissomuchlefttosay.

LubainaBahar

FreeWriting

Iwillneverfeelmymother’sarmsaroundmeagain-thesoftnessofherskin

Yetherfortitudeisinmylegs-thatjustkeeponwalking

TrojanTrod,woman–treadingoutherstrengthofcharacter

WhereverIamandknowshegavethistome

She-only5fttallbutperfecthealthexceptforvaricoseveins-maplinesunderlumps–lumpsunderbumpsunderherluminoushide–hidinglikesinners’guilt–tracingtheway home

Ontempurapillowcasewavylines–offspringallflown

Blownbycircumstances-chancesmissedtocometogether

HersacrificeaJesusMaryDisciple-disciplinedcompassion

Passionflowertexturedcheekswithgreygreeneyes

ThatIcarryinmysocketsasalegacywithatingehue

Frompaternalblackhairedgreeneyeddeadgrandmother

Anotherlineofcompassionatesoftnessthatmakesyoublind.

MyfavouriteplaceonEarthhaswarmsandundermyfeet.

MyfavouriteplaceonEarthhasadeep,blueseaasfarastheeyecansee.

MyfavouriteplaceonEarthfeelslikeyoucanalmosttouchthesky.

MyfavouriteplaceonEarthiswherepreviousgenerationsofourfamilystoodbeforeme.

MyfavouriteplaceonEarthcarriesallourfamilieshopesanddreams.

MyfavouriteplaceonEarthiswhereIwantmyashesscatteredafterIamgone.

MyfavouriteplaceonEarthiswhereIwanttoberightnow.

MyfavouriteplaceonEarthfeelslikehome.

WendyYoung

SukiBalendra

Falling,crumblinginaheaponthefloor

Fragmented,brokenandlost

Claspingontoyourbodyinprotection

Because,afterallwhocanprotectyoubetter thanyourself

Youask ?

Youruminate

Whilstyouquiverfromthepain

Youarecoldfromthesuffering

Thetearsstreamsilentlyandsoftlydownyour stingingcheeks

Noiseandlaughterechoinginthebarren

depthsofyoursoul

It’salmostbecomeeasytobesad

Tohavelostallhopeandacceptedtheharsh, bitterrealitiesoflifeandloss

Loathingyourselfandyourjourney

It’stheoptimism,themotivationthedriveto riseandgetup

That’sthehardbit

Theself-pity,thefakelaughterandthe‘I’ve givenup’seemtocomenaturally

Re-writing,deconstructingandre-wording that’sthedifficultpart

Navigatingthenewbackdropwithanew picture

Paintinganewskyline

Ofhope,vibrancyandopportunities

That’stheenduring,silentsufferingthattakes themostcourage

CouragethatIhopeweallfind

Intheabyssofourdespair,thereisalwaysan illuminatingflicker

Alight

Avibrantcrimsonagainsttheshadesof darkness

Untilyoufindit,I’llbeyourhope

I’llremindyouofyourworth,yourcontribution, yourbrilliance

Iwillforeverremaincommittedtotheriseof thosewhohavefallen

Becauseintheendthemostbeautiful, empathetic,caringsouls

Arethosewhohavefallentimeandtime again

Andgotbackup,rose,risen,liftedandcarried on Andliftedtheothersaroundthemtoo

Becauseinthispuzzle,Ibuildupwardsand eachpersonIaddtomyupwardtoweradds tothisflicker

Untilonedaytheflickerturnsintoablazing fireandweareallfinallywarmtogether

SannaZaffar

AstheteamreflectsWorkingduringtheCovidpandemicthespiritsintheroomare ofcourage,togethernesssadness,Loneliness,isolation,Modesty,growth,tearsand laughtertheemotionsintheroomarerealandpresent

Asweworkinthesecondwaveemotionsarehighasweknowwhattoexpect Staff areinneedofmuch moresupportsogroupsandindividualcareissought

MaskEmancipation

Lookingataseaofmasks,theintrigueandwonder… Reflectingonfondermomentswhenwewereallfree

Whoaretheseindividualsunitedwiththevisionofkeepingeveryonesafe?

Behindourmasks,wemustremainbravetoensureeveryonestayssafe

Lookingforwardtothetimewherewecanshareimpromptuembracesandshow ourfaces

Fornow,Iamthewomanbehindthemaskwithaglimmerofhopeandashimmer ofredlipstick

Onedaytherewillbemaskemancipation,whatelation!

Wewillbefreeandtheonewearingredlipstickwillbeme

SamanthaGayle

TrishaTeixeira

HeathSystem

TheNHSismagical

Itisbirth,itisdeath

Itislove,itisloss

Itisanabundanceofcare,knowledgeandquestions

Withdeepthoughtoutanswers

Itiscradlingingrief

Itisassuranceintragedy

Itisconceptuallyinvigorating

Conceptuallyencapsulating

Conceptuallybrilliant

But Thenthereisreality

Fundcutsandausterity

Oh…andofcoursetheTories

Redforme

Warmandvivid

Thecolourofthebloodthroughmyveins

Thenthereisblue

Stoicandstandoffish

Liketheoxygentheyhavedepletedfromthesystem

Onedayitwon’tbreathe

GoodbyeNHS,Goodbyeequality

SannaZaffar

WhenIcan...Iwillgotothesea

CastoffmywalkingbootswhenIreachthebeach

Shedmysocks–I’lldigmyfeet–grabasmuchsandasIcan

Mytoescurledlikecrabclaws–alifeoftheirown

Grabbinglikethemachinenexttothehospital

Grind‘til thecrunchywetgrainsshedmyskin

Exfoliatethesoles-twistanddrivemyheels

Theballstinglinglikeadrill

WhenIcan-Iwilltreadthewater

Dodgetherocks-popseaweed-–letseaspraylickme

Gradualwaveslap tomybelly–sluicedofstress

Strafesandygrains–smothermeinhealingwaves

Embracesunlightonmychest–chargethewholeofme

WhenIcan,Iwilllingeraslongasthelightwillletme

‘tiltheyolkofthesunmeltsintothehorizon

Thealbumencloudsfadetogrey -dissipate

Makewayforthecobaltnight–scatteringsofstars

Becomebold–thenold–becomeblackholes

WhenIleave–mysandprintfirm–I’lltakesomeinajar

Keepitnexttomybed–stretchandcurl

Mytoes intoamermaid’stail –mytresseslaidonmyTempurpillow

Sheathedinwhite –throwthesheetoverme–puttheoceantobed

Sleepandthinkofmovingwith... totheSea.

TheprojectwasgenerouslyfundedbyImperialHealthCharityand TheNationalLotteryCommunityFund