2 Words to live and die by

<h3>Background</h3> The idea for a Haiku and Three-Line Poetry Competition emerged during a meeting for Dying Matters Week, an initiative by Hospice UK aimed at fostering open conversations about death and dying. In healthcare institutes across the UK, the role of poetry continues to emerge between medical humanities and clinical care. <h3>Methods</h3> Recognising the power of poetry, especially short forms like haiku, to express emotions when our words often fail, the competition was launched by the Acute Palliative Care team of South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT). A partnership with Sally Ballard, a haiku expert from the Shakespeare Hospice, helped bring the project to life, with her teaching inspiring a wider community of poets. The competition invited participants to share personal reflections on themes of death, loss, and grief; promoted through local hubs, flyers, and online platforms. <h3>Results</h3> The contest attracted diverse entries, including contributions from children and renowned authors such as Michael Rosen and Donna Ashworth. The judges, led by William Sieghart, founder of the Poetry Pharmacy, selected three winning poems, which were then compiled into an illustrated anthology funded by SWFT Charity. The book, structured into six thematic sections, incorporates both poetry and expert insights. Themes like ‘Best to Say the Word’ and ‘The Last Breath’ draw on the work of palliative care pioneers, while ‘What Matters to Me’ explores the importance of Advance Care Planning. The final section, ‘But Why the Sad Face?’, reflects a lighter, more optimistic view of death. <h3>Conclusions</h3> The project highlights the therapeutic potential of creative collaboration in palliative care, emphasising how art and poetry can help individuals process grief and foster a deeper understanding of life and death. Through this initiative, the SWFT team learned the profound impact of shared creativity in supporting those navigating life’s most challenging experiences.