Eurig Salisbury

Name: Eurig Salisbury

Artistic medium: Poetry

What is it about poetry that inspires you?

Poetry has always been a way for people to relate to each other in the Welsh language. People's relationships with each other is one of the major themes of our literature, and one type of poem that is very relevant in this context are poems of reassurance, which are poems to comfort people in need. What I like about that kind of poem is that it shows the power of poetry to do good to people's lives by showing sympathy.

Where did you get your inspiration from for the poems for the unit?

I was inspired by the staff of the unit and by people who had received treatment from them. Their stories were full of endurance, perseverance and a positive spirit. Finding the will and funding to create a new cancer unit like this is no small feat, after all, and the obvious dedication of everyone involved in the work was something to be admired.

Allwch chi ddisgrifio'r broses rydych chi'n mynd drwyddi wrth lunio cerdd? | Can you describe the process you go through when crafting a poem?

Compiling a poem for a commission like this can be challenging. Everyone has their point of view, and the points of view are often very intense and personal. Yet, as a result of talking to the team, it became clear that there were some common themes that I could prioritize in the poem, namely the strength of will of the people who provide care and the ability to transfer that strength to the people they care for. The sea was also a prominent image from the beginning, simply because Aberystwyth is a seaside town, and there are many rich images related to the beach and the waves that we can use in the poem. Writing was then a fairly easy process in Welsh and English.

How do you hope your artwork will impact the patients, staff, and visitors at the Leri Cancer unit?

I hope that the work will have a very positive effect on everyone. Focusing on something positive, no matter what that thing is - a poem, a piece of art, a conversation, a picture, music - can be a very good way to sort out worries and come to terms with difficult situations. If nothing else, I hope that the poem will remind the person who reads it that, no matter what their difficulties, they are never alone.