Winning Addenbrooke's poem goes on display

The winner of the first Addenbrooke’s staff poetry competition was announced on Thursday 9 October to mark National Poetry Day.

There were over 60 entries – and from a shortlist of ten, one poem emerged as the judges’ favourite. It has been painted on the wall of the corridor that links the main hospital with the Addenbrooke’s Treatment Centre, and will be seen by thousands of patients, visitors and members of staff every day.

“We had an overwhelming response, and the standard of the poems was very high," says Bonnie Watson, who helped organise the competition. “Choosing just one winner was a real challenge, but the results show the creative talents of our staff at Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie."

The final decision was left to a panel of literary experts recruited from outside the hospital. They chose 'Hi, Mum!’ by Paul McGhee, who is the Programme and Information Manager in the Research and Development Department.

Paul says: “I am delighted to have won. It is amazing that about 15 brand new people arrive in the world via the Rosie every day. Working in research, I became fascinated by the idea of stem cells, and my poem is about how you get from just a few cells, which seem to know what they are doing, to a real working human being that is aware of itself. Poetry is a great way to explain science because they both require disciplined thought."

Paul’s poem, together with a selection of other entries, was revealed at a ceremony on Thursday 9 October in the Addenbrooke’s Treatment Centre atrium. There are prizes for all shortlisted poets courtesy of Cambridge bookshop Galloway & Porter.

The winning poem:

Hi, Mum!

I was two cells – one each from him and you.

Fused, not confused, seems they already knew

From all they could be, what they had to be.

Divided, they decided to be me.

With every split decision that they took,

Each chose a route, put on a different look;

A cage of bone, a flow of blood, some skin,

A web of nerves, a mind to keep things in.

Some time amongst that maze I saw a light,

Felt a sharp pain, took unexpected fright;

Heard your heart, sure, but then I heard my own;

Became aware of just how much I’d grown.

Rough-hewn from what heredity portends,

Hi, mum! I’m ready now to shape my ends.

by Paul McGhee