A dementia-friendly poetry selection of inspiring and thoughtful verses by much-loved poets

Sometimes it’s hard to maintain conversation with a loved one, as so much of our chit-chat relies on short-term memory. “How has your week been? Did you go to the concert? Did you get outside yesterday?” These are normal, friendly questions, but are challenging for anyone living with memory loss or confusion.

The solution for those who have been poetry-lovers: excerpts from classic poems by great poets, with beautiful scenic photographs, to encourage shared reading, discussion and connection. There have been a number of studies on the value of poetry in shared reading for people living with dementia. These highlight the importance of the rhythm, the rhyme, the familiarity of the verses, and the profound messages captured in a few words – plus the experience of sharing this with another person.

This book is a little different – I wouldn’t call it formal ‘religious’ poetry, as some poets were free thinkers, but it explores their relationship with the Divine in everyday life, often through nature.

There are verses from classic poets like William Blake, Sir Walter Ralegh, Emily Brontë, Emily Dickinson, and Henry W. Longfellow.

40 pages, extra large font, in a bright, slim, light 8 × 10 paperback.
There is no reference to dementia or other illness inside the book or on the cover. The back cover says simply: Join great poets as they explore their experience of the Divine. Keep your mind active as you read aloud or read along!

You can find Illustrated Poetry of Awe and Wonder on Amazon via this universal link: https://mybook.to/AweWonder or ask at your local library. (Tell them to look for ISBN number: 9781922191595.)