April 2016
Jackson Health Systems
Poetry Prescriptions
Co-created with Jackson Health Systems
Not all ills are corporal in nature. During the month of April, poetry professionals at Jackson Health Systems Pharmacy are issuing a different kind of prescription: pill bottles containing contemporary poems in English, Spanish, and Creole. After being “diagnosed,” pharmacy volunteers give each interested visitor to the pharmacy a “poetry prescription” that contains one poem in the language of the patient’s choosing. Poems in English were curated and chosen by award-winning poet Gabrielle Calvocoressi, while the Spanish and Creole poems were written specifically for this project by Miami poets Yosie Crespo and M.J. Fievre, respectively. Poetry prescriptions are given out all April until supplies run out.