Our hand-raising friend asked, “…is writing poetry good for you?” To provide a quality answer, I’d like to know why she stopped by — general interest or to get help for an emotional or mental illness. Let’s assume the latter, and the answer is yes — in many ways.
Creating a poem is a combination of a construction project and putting together a jigsaw puzzle.
Quick question…
If you blogged about emotional and mental health and were asked our featured question, or one like it, would you want to know why the questioner visited your blog? What impact would “yes” and “no” have on your answers? Just something to think about.
Is writing poetry good for you?
Again, our friend’s question: Is poetry good for you? The answer is a firm yes. Is it necessary? No.
Here’s what I mean. If you’ve been dealing with your emotional or mental illness for any length of time, I’m thinking you’ve spoken with a therapist or psychiatrist and have done some independent study.
Expression of feelings and thoughts
In those conversations and study sessions, it’s likely you learned that outwardly expressing feelings and thoughts — with its recall, reprocessing, and reexperiencing, — can untangle a lot of knots. It’s true, and the same applies to journaling, drawing, sketching, painting, pottery work, and more.
But it isn’t just that. Writing poetry can be a wonderful (momentary) escape from your troubles.And it involves using your fingers and hands, which has always been one of my primary go-to’s when times get tense.
I write poetry (go figure)
It really doesn’t matter if folks like it — it’s mine.
I’ve been writing emotional and mental health content for some 20 years. I’ve written poetry for 40. Go figure, right? I can’t adequately express how much it means to be able to turn to either of them (to write or read) anytime, anywhere.
Creating a poem is a combination of a construction project and putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Finding the right words to convey a thought or feeling, choosing the best place to insert phrases and lines, checking rhyme and rhythm aloud — I love it.
You know, I was reading some of my poetry several days ago. I’ll share one with you…
In the End
In the end
The words will come
Never worry
I know it’s true
And the very action you doubt
Will be there
I’m certain
A strange kind of wisdom
Has grown inside your troubled heart
And a miraculous power
Without notice
Is alive
And at call
I know
So be calm
All truth is there
And it waits quietly by your side
It’ll come
In the end
I wrote that 30-some years ago, and still remember the circumstances and setting. And it’s always there for reflection, minor edits, and sharing. And though I hope it’s meaningful to those I give it to, it really doesn’t matter if folks like it — it’s mine.
“Have a go at it?”
In Hidden Figures, Katherine Goble Johnson was always willing to have a go at it.
Among the remarkable scenes in the film, Hidden Figures: Launch time was right around the corner, as the Friendship 7 project team convened. Life or death calculations had yet to be made, and those in charge demanded action.
Out of nowhere, task force director Al Harrison (Kevin Costner) held out a piece of chalk and said to mathematician Katherine Goble Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), “Have a go at it, Katherine?” She took the chalk, went to the board, and blew the room away with her mind-boggling and accurate calculations.
What about you?
You knew it was coming. I’m holding out the chalk. Are you ready to have a go at it? If you are, here are several things to keep in mind…
- You’re writing for yourself
- Express yourself freely
- Know when you’re approaching your emotional boundaries and take a break
- Don’t try to be the next Maya Angelou
- Save what you write, even if you think it’s awful
You’ll grow in wisdom as times rolls on. But those will get you going.
How could it not be good?
No doubt about it, writing poetry is good for you — especially if you have an emotional or mental illness. Again, the same applies to journaling, drawing, sketching, painting, and pottery work. They all rely upon accessing private places in the mind, uncovering assorted truths, processing, and expressing.
For those with a kind heart, how could it not be good?
Plese peruse the Chipur emotional and mental illness info and inspiration titles on the articles page — or by category below, right sidebar on desktop. We’ll both appreciate it.
Katherine Gobel Johnson image: ARS Technica Fair Use
After a decades-long wrestling match with emotional and mental illness, Bill finally found his professional and personal passion – life’s meaning. He wanted to lend a hand to those struggling as he did, so off he went to grad school at age 49 and earned his counseling credentials. He continues his service through Chipur and other projects.