Palliative care is more than a medical specialty—it is an art that embodies humanism, compassion, and connection. Like poetry, it invites us to slow down, to listen, and to find meaning in the stories of others. Both palliative care and poetry thrive in the spaces between certainty and ambiguity. We are called to bear witness to life’s fragility, its beauty, and its inevitable cycles. Joy Harjo’s words in “Eagle Poem” remind us of our deep interconnectedness: "We must take the utmost care and kindness in all things... knowing we are truly blessed because we / Were born, and die, soon within a / True circle of motion." This is the essence of palliative care—to approach life and death with reverence, acknowledging that both are part of a greater whole. Life’s impermanence, though daunting, creates opportunities to honor the time we have and the stories that shape us.
In palliative care, we often sit with patients who are processing the narrative of their lives. Many carry regrets, fears, or fractured relationships. Mary Oliver’s “Wild Geese” speaks to this human vulnerability: "You do not have to be good... / You only have to let the soft animal of your body / Love what it loves." These lines offer a powerful reminder that imperfection is not only human but also beautiful. Palliative care creates a space where patients can let go of perfectionism and find peace with their lives. This act of forgiveness—for themselves, and sometimes for others—is as transformative as the care itself.
Loss and grief are constant companions in palliative care, yet they deepen our capacity
for empathy. Naomi Shihab Nye writes in “Kindness”: “Before you know what kindness really is / You must lose things, / Feel the future dissolve in a moment / Like salt in a weakened broth." The work of palliative care is shaped by these moments—when life changes irrevocably, and we stand beside those who are grieving. It is in these moments of shared vulnerability that we discover the depth of kindness and the strength it takes to carry it forward.
Palliative care also teaches us to embrace life’s ambiguity and complexity. Joe Brainard’s reflection, “Sometimes / Everything / Seems / So / Oh, I don’t know,” captures this perfectly. Not every question has an answer, and not every story needs to make sense. Sitting in silence with a patient, simply being present, is often the most meaningful act. As Archibald MacLeish writes in “Ars Poetica”, "A poem should not mean / But be." This is also true of palliative care—it is not about imposing meaning but about being present, bearing witness to the beauty and sorrow of life as it unfolds.
Roque Dalton’s poem “Like You” resonates deeply with this perspective: "I believe the world is beautiful / And that poetry, like bread, is for everyone. / And that my veins don’t end in me / But in the unanimous blood / Of those who struggle for life, / Love, / The little things, / Landscape and bread / The poetry of everyone." Palliative care, like poetry, emerges from shared human experiences. It allows us to connect with the struggles and hopes of others, recognizing that these universal threads bind us all. By sitting with patients and their families, we engage in the collective poetry of life—one that celebrates resilience, love, and the beauty of the everyday.
Ultimately, palliative care is a practice of love and gratitude. Mary Oliver’s “The Gift” captures this beautifully: "So be slow if you must, but let the heart still pay its true part. /Love still as once you loved, deeply / And without patience." In caring for those at the end of life, we are reminded to live fully, love deeply, and express gratitude for the gift of existence. It is a lesson that touches not only our patients and their families but also transforms us as caregivers.
As Mary Oliver writes in “Blackwater Pond”, "To love what is mortal; / To hold it / Against your bones... / And when the time comes / To let it go." Palliative care reminds us that love is what makes loss so painful, and it is this same love that gives life its meaning. Just as poetry captures the ephemeral nature of existence, palliative care honors the fleeting beauty of life, helping patients and families navigate the balance between holding on and letting go.
Together, poetry and palliative care teach us to live with presence, compassion, and an abiding respect for the stories we are privileged to share. In the end, both remind us that the world is indeed beautiful and that our lives, like poetry, are meant to be shared
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