A drop of hope: Poetry from a Vaccination Centre
Twelve virtual poets-in-residence have written poems that reflect on the impact of the vaccination program, and the shifts and changes we’ve all gone through in the past year.
They were inspired by the words of those who have been vaccinated within the Francis Crick Institute, the reflections of the volunteers working at the vaccination centre, and the experiences of local communities.
This is a project run in collaboration between Poet in the City and the Francis Crick Institute.
The poems were available to view outside the Crick on Brill Place in London between May and August 2021.
The project
In January 2021, the Manby Gallery, the Crick’s public exhibition and events space, was converted to an NHS vaccination centre as part of the national vaccine campaign. It is anticipated that it will offer up to 1,000 vaccines a day at peak capacity.
As the vaccination efforts continue within the Crick, and around the country, we are understanding the impact of science on their everyday lives more than ever. A Drop of Hope reflects on this, and the part we play in a wider community effort.
In reference to the cumulative effect of each vaccination, the project will evolve and grow throughout the lifetime of the vaccination centre being on site.
Of the 12 poems which will form part of the final installation, two will be in Bengali and two in Somali, reflecting the ethnic diversity of the people who contributed to the project and the community in local Camden.
The poems
Our virtual poets-in-residence are drawing on the archive of postcards, a rich source of inspiration, themes, language, stories and perspectives. Read the twelve poems below:
