Instagram Poem #7. This one seems fitting for today, since I have an MRI scheduled later this morning.
Irises (1889) by Vincent van Gogh.
Waiting with Vincent
A scheduled MRI
of the brain shifts
my thoughts toward
all of the
“what if, worst-case scenarios.”
While waiting for my name
to be called,
I see a print of Irises (1889)
hanging on a wall.
From far across the room,
without my glasses,
the slanted vertical
green leaves
look like snakes
writhing in the dirt.
But the longer
I stare at the image,
the calmer I feel.
Placid is the word
that comes to mind.
And I’m thankful Vincent
spends a few
moments with me
prior to my appointment
with the tube machine.
Because when sitting
in a hospital
waiting room,
artwork by Vincent
never fails to lift the spirits.
A van Gogh painting beats
People magazine
or an iPhone screen
every time.
Francis DiClemente 
Yes art can have a wonderful calming effect. It’s great that music can now be played during an MRI too, at least gives some distraction!
Yes, you are right Annabel about the effect of art. But instead of music, I prefer wearing earplugs during an MRI and just hearing the rat-tat-tat-tat of the machine. I usually fall asleep!