Across the vibrant landscape of San Francisco, the Poetry Garden Installation at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital offers a unique experience. This isn’t just a garden. It’s a place where words and nature intertwine, creating a space for reflection and healing. The Poetry Garden Installation started as a project within the Skilled Nursing Facility. Patients explored and expressed their health journeys through poetry. This intimate project blossomed into a collaboration with the Gardening Department, thanks to a Hearts Grant from the SFGH Foundation. Artist Rebecca Fox designed special stands to display the poetry. These stands are scattered throughout the public gardens on the ZSFG campus.
The Poetry Garden Installation is ever-changing. Gardeners rotate poems written by patients, professional poets, and UCSF employees from various campuses. This constant renewal keeps the installation fresh and engaging. Imagine strolling through the Comfort Garden in front of Buildings 80/90, pausing to read a poem that resonates with your own experiences. Or perhaps you find yourself drawn to the Resilience Garden near Building 9, where another set of poems awaits. While the Labyrinth Garden on the 7th floor of Building 25 also houses poetry, it remains temporarily closed due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The Poetry Garden Installation aims to connect patients, visitors, and staff through the shared language of poetry. The words and emotions of the authors, placed within the natural beauty of the gardens, offer a moment of respite and connection. They create a space where individuals can find comfort, solace, and perhaps even a spark of inspiration. The Poetry Garden Installation isn’t just an art exhibit. It’s a testament to the power of words to heal and connect us, amidst the bustling environment of a hospital.