A nurse who turned to poetry as a way of coping during the pandemic has had his heartfelt words published in his own book.
Michael Jenkins used his experiences as an emergency department nurse as inspiration for a number of his poems.
Despite always having an interest in poetry, it was only during the pandemic that Michael put pen to paper.
He has since written around 100 poems, many of which detail what it’s like to be a nurse and care for patients in a high-pressured environment.
“I’ve always had an interest in poetry since I was a child but I really started writing during the pandemic as a coping mechanism,” Michael said.
“I was working in ED, on the frontline, and I just thought it was something that could help other people too.
“Some of my poems are about being a nurse, treating patients, being in resuscitation and just the emotions of seeing people coming in.
“There’s one I’ve written called Give Me a Break, which is about going into work and not having the time to take a break, whether that’s on a professional level or a personal one.”
Having worked through one of the toughest times for NHS staff, Michael found it therapeutic to write about what he was seeing on a daily basis.
“On a personal level, working through the pandemic was quite difficult for me,” Michael, who currently works on the surgical decision making ward at Morriston Hospital, said.
“We were wearing the full personal protective equipment (PPE) and we were sweating all day.
“It was hard going home to your family and trying to communicate what had been going on at work.
“I even caught Covid while working in ED and I was really poorly. I found out I had a rare strain of the virus.
“It was quite therapeutic for me to write the poems.”
Michael started posting some of his poems on his Facebook page, as well as in online Covid support groups.
After receiving more and more positive feedback from the support groups and his colleagues, he was inspired to continue and even started writing every day.
Now, around 40 of his poems which focus on his Covid experiences have been compiled into his own book, called Pandemic Poems.
He added: “People kept telling me that my poems were amazing and I just kept writing every day.
“All of my colleagues in work were encouraging me when I was writing them.
“It felt good to have people telling me that they were making them feel better.
“I was asked to write a poem for International Nurses’ Day on behalf of Morriston Hospital. My poems were also on display in ED at one point.”
Michael decided to get in touch with a publisher and it set the wheels in motion not only for his book to be published but to be stocked by Amazon.
Its front cover was designed by a local schoolgirl, Hannah Morgans, who goes to Olchfa Comprehensive School, in Swansea.
Similarly to Michael’s poetry, the 13-year-old only began drawing during lockdown.
“I put a post on Facebook asking for help with designing a cover and Hannah’s mum said she would help me,” he said.
“She sent me a design and I loved it so that’s what we went with.
“I never dreamed of having a book of my poems published so I am chuffed. I am over the moon and very excited.”
