When Vicki, Lifestyle Coordinator at Regis The Gap in Queensland, saw the beautiful poems her Home’s residents were writing, she knew she had to celebrate their talents.
And so, Regis The Gap Poetry Day was born, where residents gather outside to read and listen to poetry, providing a space for work to be heard and shared.
The Home has several prolific writers, and coming together as a group to listen to creative work is a much‑loved activity on the lifestyle calendar.
Two residents, Elvira and Allan, are particularly accomplished writers whose poetry continues to inspire others.
If you ask resident Allan about poetry, he will gladly begin reciting one of many poems he’s written. Allan started writing at just 12 years of age. His first poem, “Australia,” began with the lines:
“Oft have I wondered o’er and o’er what our homeland is, what it was before.
And thinking this, all I can say, I bow my head and thus I pray.”
Allan shared that poetry helps him reflect on life and remember where we come from, using his gift to help others along the way.
Resident Elvira has written over 200 poems and has received writing awards and publication recognition. One poem she read during Poetry Day, ‘Drover’s Wife’, begins:
“I carved your name into a railway seat. The porter filled it in and painted over.
But I was young and very discreet. True love is in the eyes of the beholder.”
Elvira and Allan’s powerful storytelling often encourage group discussion, with residents opening up and sharing their own experiences.
