One of the most meaningful pieces of breakup advice I ever received came from my friend Genna during a particularly tough end to a long-term relationship: write poetry. Feeling overwhelmed by heartbreak, I decided to give it a try. Emily Dickinson’s wise words echoed in my mind:
Not knowing when the Dawn will come
I open every Door.
In the weeks that followed, I wrote over two dozen poems. While they were far from artistic masterpieces, they served as an invaluable tool to help me process the heavy emotions I was navigating. The act of writing was cathartic, offering moments of revelation and comfort.
Years later, my heart fully healed, I discovered that emerging scientific research supports what I experienced firsthand: poetry has significant wellness potential.
The Power of Words in Healing
Spoken word poet Sekou Andrews exemplifies how words can offer strength during life’s most challenging moments. At the recent Life Itself conference, a health and wellness event presented with CNN, Andrews shared a powerful “poetic voice” presentation recounting his and his wife’s struggle with infertility and loss. His message was simple yet profound:
All inspiration really is is a peephole into possibility.
There is a wall and then suddenly something shakes it, disrupts it,
And there’s a crack that appears
And you can see something on the other side.
And there is a power to simply being able to say,
“I see it!”
Poetry, as noted by researchers Xiang and Yi, can be an effective tool for improving emotional well-being, confidence, and quality of life. It helps individuals cope with pain, navigate stressful situations, and confront uncertainty.
Why Poetry Works
Poetry’s unique power lies in its ability to slow our reaction to life’s events and offer new perspectives. By doing so, it helps us frame our experiences in ways that foster deeper understanding and empathy. Sekou Andrews described poetry as a way to see a version of oneself that is unexpected and inspiring.
Poetry is truth in its Sunday clothes, said French poet Joseph Roux. Through the use of metaphor and imagery, poetry accesses emotions in ways that direct language cannot. Linda Wasmer Andrews, writing for Psychology Today, highlighted how poetry’s abstract nature can make it easier to examine painful experiences without feeling threatened.
Poetry doesn’t just engage the mind; it can evoke powerful physical responses. A 2017 study found that when people hear poetry read aloud, they often experience chills or goosebumps, responses tied to the brain’s reward-sensing areas.
John O’Donohue’s poem “For the Interim Time” captures this transformative process:
What is being transfigured here in your mind,
And it is difficult and slow to become new.
The more faithfully you can endure here,
The more refined your heart will become
For your arrival in the new dawn.
Infusing Poetry Into Your Life
Whether you choose to read, write, or listen, there are countless ways to incorporate poetry into your life. Try attending open mic nights or listening to poetry-focused podcasts like The Slowdown by American Public Media and the National Endowment for the Arts. If you prefer to read, explore the works of poets like Shel Silverstein, Mary Oliver, Maya Angelou, Sharon Olds, or John O’Donohue.
Writing poetry doesn’t require formal training. Experiment with different forms, such as haikus or free verse. The website Read Poetry offers creative exercises to inspire beginners. As Sekou Andrews advises, “Just write. Just speak. Don’t worry about it being good to you, you’ll get there. First, just let it be good for you.”
So, step into poetry’s embrace and let it guide you through whatever phase of life you’re in. Or as Billy Collins once wrote in “Introduction to Poetry”:
…walk inside the poem’s room
and feel the walls for a light switch.
Read More: https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/15/health/poetry-life-itself-wellness/index.html
