Abstract
This paper reports on the Poetry for Wellbeing and Recovery program at the University of Canberra Hospital. Patients in rehab have been attending weekly sessions focused on reading and writing poetry. Reading poetry often evokes powerful memories and strong emotions, as poems seem to open outwards when the reader’s own experience is engaged, and events from the distant past are revisited and articulated. But for some participants memory is less accessible and writing about present lived experience becomes more important. Some participants have difficulty in writing, for various reasons, sometimes physical, sometimes cognitive; we often scribe for them and create ‘dictation poems’, with fascinating results. This presentation shares anecdotes and findings from the program, including examples of participant writing.
Bio
Owen Bullock has published four collections of poetry, five books of haiku, a bilingual edition of tanka and a novella. A new book of haiku, titled The Scuppered Lily, will be launched in August 2026, and an academic book, How to Write Haiku, in 2027. His research interests include creative arts and wellbeing; haikai literature; poetry and process; semiotics and poetry; prose poetry; and collaboration. He is Discipline Lead for Creative Writing and Literary Studies at the University of Canberra. His other interests include music, juggling and chess.
This presentation was accompanied by slides. To view the slides head to Owen Bullock_Presentation.pptx