round suns wintering on the table

Happy Christmas from all of us at the Poetry Pharmacy

At this time of year, when the days are at their darkest and the world can feel heavy with difficult news, we find ourselves returning to the small, steady things that endure. Lights lit against the dark, kindness, the simple act of gathering, remembering, and being hopeful together.

Across cultures and faiths, people mark this season with light; a candle, a lamp, a star in the window as a way of saying we are still here, and we still care for one another. We hold that spirit close at the Poetry Pharmacy. We believe that poetry has always been one of those small lights. 

We are deeply grateful to everyone who has walked through our doors, read some poetry that we have recommended, sent a poem to a friend, or simply paused over some beautiful lines that resonated this year. Thank you for being part of this community of readers, listeners, and quiet believers in this human connection through writing.

We wish you warmth, rest, and moments of light, however and wherever you find them.

With love and hope,
from all of us at the Poetry Pharmacy 

from The Eclipse by Richard Eberhart 
I stood in the cold on the porch
And could not think of anything so perfect
As mans hope of light in the face of darkness.

You can read the whole poem here

We have been enjoying Rutger Bregman’s 2025 Reith Lectures, which reflect on moments in history when ordinary people sparked extraordinary moral change. From the suffragette and abolitionist movements to other quiet revolutions of conscience, Bregman reminds us that progress is often driven by collective moral courage. Across four lectures, he also turns his attention to the explosive technological shifts of recent years, placing us at a moment of immense risk and possibility, and asks how we might consciously shape the future rather than drift into it.

Bregman’s belief in our capacity for goodness is one we share at the Poetry Pharmacy. His book Humankind has been a much-loved tonic on our shelves. You can also order Moral Ambition here, and be inspired to imagine what a more hopeful, humane future might look like.

Wild Words: Winter with acclaimed poet Rhiannon Hooson

Cold settles across the land like a spell. In the wood, each leaf and twig are edged in frost, and from the ice-clogged fields rises a fog that blooms into lilac as the moon rises.
How it works
Beginning on the first of January, you will receive a daily writing prompt delivered to your inbox. You can spend as much - or as little - time on each prompt as you like. The course finishes on the 31st.

Wild Words: Winter is for anyone who would like to live more creatively, write more, or make an authentic connection with the natural world. The cost is £37 for a whole month of inspiration.
You can learn more here, and sign up here. If you have any questions please do email Rhiannon at crhooson@gmail.com.