The Poetry Pharmacy at Sharjah Book Fair 2025 dispenses poetic “prescriptions” tailored to emotions, blending literature with wellness.
SHARJAH: Among the most unique attractions at the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2025) is the Poetry Pharmacy, a UK-based literary concept offering visitors personalised “prescriptions” of poetry based on their emotional needs.
Curated by poet and editor Deborah Alma, the initiative reimagines reading as a therapeutic experience. Visitors choose poetic “pills” presented in elegant bottles, each containing a scroll of verses selected to match their mood—whether heartbreak, anxiety, or inspiration. Every bottle includes bilingual Arabic and English labels, adding a cultural and inclusive touch.
“The idea is simple but meaningful,” said Alma during her session at SIBF. “Poetry can soothe, uplift, and even heal. We treat it as a literary prescription for the soul.”
Alma first introduced the concept in her anthology Emergency Poet: An Anti-Stress Poetry Anthology, and has since expanded the Poetry Pharmacy into two bookshops in the UK. She explained how UK bookshops have begun to categorise books by emotional themes. “If your heart is broken, you browse the section that addresses that feeling,” she said.
Back in Sharjah for the second time—her first visit was nine years ago with poet Rupi Kaur—Alma shared her joy at returning. “Coming from a grey UK winter into the warmth and kindness of Sharjah feels like a step into summer,” she smiled.
The Poetry Pharmacy booth has quickly become a standout experience at the fair. It invites readers not just to engage with literature intellectually, but to feel it, absorb it, and let it speak to their inner state. Visitors can be seen quietly opening their poetic capsules, some reading their verses with smiles, others reflecting in thoughtful silence.
“The response has been overwhelming,” said Alma. “It’s amazing to see how a simple poem, handed to someone in need, can offer a moment of clarity or comfort. That’s the power of literature.”
As SIBF 2025 continues under the theme ‘Between You and a Book’, the Poetry Pharmacy reminds readers that sometimes the right words, at the right time, can be the best remedy.
