“I blow kisses to the sunshine from the depths of despair,
choosing an act of love in the most hopeless of places,
reminding myself that if love can fly,
so can I.”
--JPS

Poetry is an expression of the soul that allows the writer to tap into complicated emotions, feelings, thoughts. and past experiences in a safe, empowering, authentic way. Poetry has been an artistic form of self-expression that has had a powerful impact on my own healing journey. I remember the first poem I ever wrote about a deep depression I experienced in my late teenage years. In it, themes of sadness, fear, loss, hope, and redemption painted the page with vivid symbolism that communicated I was lost in darkness, but was desperately seeking out connection. I didn’t have the tools nor did I feel safe directly communicating how I felt to other people. It can feel scary, unsafe, or unfamiliar to share direct experiences of our emotional pain, especially if we were taught this was not okay growing up. Once I wrote this poem, though, I felt validated in my own experience. I saw my inner-experience outside of myself, cloaked in imagery and symbolism, in a way that made sense to me. Eventually, I shared this poem with others and found I wasn’t the only person feeling depressed or alone. I was seen in a way that felt comfortable to me. Over time, I wrote more poems and it became easier and easier to talk directly about my experiences and emotions with others.

When we write poetry, we engage with our senses, emotions, and memories in a way that gives us control. We determine how we feel, how much we want to share, and how we wish to express our authentic self. It allows us to be seen and heard, first and foremost, to ourselves.

Secondly, poetry is a way to make the most private memories and emotions we crave to be seen and heard accessible to others in a way that still feels safe. It allows others to experience and feel with us with no added pressure to share any further. We can explain our poem or not explain it—it is always our choice.

Lastly, it allows us the opportunity to process difficult emotions and experiences that might be too overwhelming for our psyches to acknowledge in any other form. Connecting our experiences through metaphor or simile reminds us that there is someone, some thing, or some natural occurrence that mimics what we have gone through. This gives us hope, and we are able to undergo a transformation, whether it be small or big. It reminds us, on a very tangible and real level, that we are not alone.

Perhaps you have never written a poem and don’t know where to start. Reading poetry can be a wonderful place to begin. Having our emotions evoked by the vulnerability of others can be inspirational and help us give ourselves permission to feel and express our own. Here are some resources to read more about the healing power of poetry and to discover poems that might inspire you to write one of your own!

Healing Through the Safety of Poetry

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