Even bad poetry is good.
The ultimate resource to free your emotions and let words flow.
Poetry is one of my first loves. My bookshelf is stacked with over sixty poetry books that have survived every move. I can’t let them go, even dusty ones I seldom pick up. They're like old friends, patiently waiting for whenever I need a remedy. It's my dose of bibliotherapy.
For as long as I can remember, words have been a healing balm. My earliest collection was staple-bound in bright floral wallpaper, the pencil scribbled random thoughts of an 8-year-old. I continued with pen to paper through the broken-hearted years of youth, long before Tay Tay spelled it out for us. Even after college, I persuaded the professor at my alma mater to let me audit every graduate-level poetry class for the experience.
Reading through notebooks, yes - some of it reallly bad, but writing them all helped. And no, you can't read them. It’s true, even bad poetry is good.
Reading, writing, and sharing poetry forges new emotional correlations, shifts perspectives, and cultivates empathy. When we feel alone in an emotion, reading poetry provokes a visceral connection to someone else. Writing it helps clarify sensitivities and convey even our darkest mood. It’s a form of communication that strengthens self-awareness and weaves our understanding into the collective human experience.
Writing Poetry: Tips to let your words flow.
See writing as a form of creative expression. Let go of the rules, quiet the inner critic, release the perfectionist pressure. Just write and let the words lead you through an exploration of thoughts and feelings.
Let the poem be a time capsule to capture the moment, to solidify the memory, and to be able to grant closure. It beautifully illustrates the present moment as you are absorbed and inspired.
A poem is finished when you say it’s finished. You can turn the page to move on or revisit and refine. It’s yours to decide if the end goal is a polished piece or an emotional expression.
Listen, Read, Learn: Ways to Engage with Poetry.
Listen: Soak it in.
Try a podcast:
Get to know poets and their work and be introduced to what inspires others.
The Slow Down: “ Poet Major Jackson is your guide on the pathways to feel and understand our common journey – through poetry. Join The Slowdown for a poem and a moment of reflection in one short episode, every weekday.”
Poetry exchange: “The Poetry Exchange talks to people about the poem that has been a friend to them. In each episode you will hear our guest talking about their chosen poem and the part it has played in their life.”
Interesting people reading poetry: “Interesting People Reading Poetry is a short, sound-rich podcast where artists and luminaries read a favorite poem and share what it means to them.”
Dig through the archives:
Visit Library of Congress website to cull through the Archive of Recorded Poetry and Literature with nearly 2,000 recordings.
Create a YouTube playlist:
Search for your favorite poets and compile them all on a list for those moments when you need some inspiration. Here’s one to get you started.
Read: Tune in.
Sign-up for Poem-a-Day Start each day with a poem. Have a poem delivered to your inbox!
Search your local library for an interesting collection of poetry. Check out an ebook. Anthologies are always a great way to be introduced to a wide array of poets.
Bookmark Poets.org for an incredibly extensive resource on poets and their poems.
Learn: Polish Your Poems.
Take an on-line writing class or start a writer’s circle to exchange work for critique.
And yes, every once in a while -write bad poetry.
Poetry is beautiful in the way it creates a community of words. Our minds marinate in rich layers of meaning and metaphor as we make nuanced emotional connections. It’s the essence of a time and experience trapped in a bottle. In that very moment, no matter how long ago it was written, the rhythm syncs to ours. The words paint a picture in a language so descriptive there are textures we can almost reach out to touch. We can find a reframe for our thoughts and feelings as we write and read, explore and discover. A newly found truth comes to and comes through.
More next week …why yoga and poetry go hand in hand? …
Check out the free resource library for some yoga flows and journaling goodies.
