The Poetry Line, from Poetry Ireland, offers connection to cocooners during lockdown

The Poetry Line, which took place as a very successful event during Poetry Day Ireland (30 April), is returning to help offer support and connection to cocooners during lockdown.

The initiative from Poetry Ireland and members of Aosdána, in collaboration with ALONE, will take place on Thursday 18 June.

Individuals who are currently cocooning can sign up to receive a phone call on the day from a writer/artist who will read them two reassuring and uplifting poems. The initiative was developed in response to the current Covid-19 restrictions, and aims to provide connection through poetry at a time that can feel very isolating.

The feedback from the first Poetry Line event in April showed that both the people who received calls and the poets/artists who made the calls benefitted greatly from the interaction and enjoyed connecting through poetry.

Here’s a quote from just one of those who took part:

“The poetry calls were a massive success and my family have been living off the happiness they provoked for the past two weeks!….For my mum it was also a complete thrill. Her reader read a fun one and a deeper one which really hits on how my mum is in the world.”

In order to sign up, please call Poetry Ireland’s dedicated Poetry Line at 01 2548856. One of the team will take your name, phone number, preferred time slot and any particular poem requests (if you have one). This line is open for sign ups 10am to 5pm and closes on Monday 15 June.