This collective poem of reflections on kindness originated at the Palliative Care 大发彩票平台 - Retreat 2024. The concept was initially developed by Danusha Lem茅ris with her poem "Small Kindnesses." Lem茅ris invited young people to read it and contribute their own observations about kindness. She compiled a new poem with their collective contributions.
We adopted a similar approach at the 2024 Palliative Care Retreat in Montreal, inviting participants to share the kindnesses they had seen and experienced while working in palliative care. Using their words, they compiled the following offering.
The result was the creation of the "The Poetry of Kindness in Palliative Care," a poem made of the of authentic and impactful observations from the individuals who have dedicated their lives to the field of palliative care.
The Poetry of Kindness in Palliative Care
A collective poem by Palliative Care Staff听
Kindness is found in my team,听
who show so much care and love,听
it is the gratitude returned.听
Kindness is when your team listens to your soul,听
your worries, your story.听
Kindness offers a beautiful smile when you feel so unwell,听
and helps the other patient in the room.听
Kindness is surprising a patient with her favorite nail polish听
after a foot massage.
Kindness is being greeted with smiles,听
offered chocolate, cake, a pizza lunch.听
Kindness is treating everyone with dignity,听
quietly going out of your way to buy lunch for a patient.听
Kindness is coffee, in the cup of coffee brought by the families.听
Kindness is in the ice cream brought by the families.听
Kindness is learning words in a patient鈥檚 native language,听
and saying a few things to them,听
seeing them light up.
Kindness is in the flowers offered by a patient.听
Kindness is receiving a delicious meal anonymously听
on my desk after a hellish day.听
Kindness is when someone sees you and compliments your new haircut.听
Kindness is in the homemade warm bread pudding听
offered by a grieving mother.听
Kindness is the elderly man who talked endlessly听
about how great a gardener his wife was,听
never leaving her side.听
Kindness is the stranger, a patient himself,听
who accompanied this lady and pushed her wheelchair听
all the way to my office, and waited with her听
until I was ready to have her in.
Kindness is offering a co-worker a hug听
after listening to a difficult situation she just had.听
Kindness is hearing my colleagues say 鈥渘o problem鈥�听
when I was too overwhelmed to keep working听
after my younger sister suddenly died.听
Kindness is bending my knees to meet your eyes,听
just because you cannot speak听
does not mean we 肠补苍鈥檛 communicate.听
Our gaze meets, pupils fixed on each other,听
and we understand.听
Kindness is a physician cleaning a patient鈥檚 glasses.听
Kindness is a patient attendant trying to figure out听
what music a patient who could not speak liked.听
Kindness is in the flowers offered every week in the palliative care unit.听
Kindness is a foot in the elevator door to stop it from closing.听
Kindness is in the soft drink bought for a patient鈥檚 husband听
who only had cash.听
Kindness is discovering your patient always had a glass of wine with dinner,听
and going out to buy a bottle of his favourite red to have with his meals in the hospital.听
Kindness is promising to sit at the patient鈥檚 bedside听
for as long as it took for the family to have a shower and a bite to eat.听
Kindness is sitting with your staff in the office听
after the loss of a patient.听
Kindness is sitting in silence after a death,听
a hand on the back after a death, a hug after a death.听
Kindness is receiving a text of condolence after my father died.听
Kindness is making space for others鈥� suffering听
while being in an especially vulnerable state.
Kindness is treating everyone with dignity,听
Kindness is taking the time to be present,听听
to share a cup of coffee with a patient鈥檚 daughter.听
Kindness is bending the rules,听
offering a glass of scotch to your patient.听
Kindness is working late into the night to console a patient.听
Kindness is in the small gestures,听
a smile, a hand to hold, a moment shared.听
Kindness is found in silence, in the quiet understanding.听
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漏 MUHC Division of Supportive & Palliative Care, 2025.鈥�听