Poems That Heal

Note: This essay was written by Gabriella Ragusa, a student at FranU, in 2024. One might be able to find poetry in the newspaper, in children’s books, or framed in grandma’s house, but one place you might not suspect to find these works is in a doctor or therapist’s office. Poetry does not discriminate; it is not only for authors and writers but can be for anyone wanting to express themselves in various ways. Poetry as therapy is gaining traction not only for at-home personal use but is also now being used as a means of narrative medicine in the clinical setting. Councilors, therapists, psychiatrists, and doctors have implemented the practice of recommending that patients write poetry to help identify and process emotions in hopes of evoking a journey of mental healing. The poem "Talking to Grief" by Denise Levertov was published in Jennifer Healey’s blog titled “Healing Brave,” which can be found at https://healingbrave.com/blogs/all/talking-to-grief-poem . This poem has the...

  Note: This post was written by A. Chiasson, a student at FranU, in 2024. Szymborska wrote “The End and the Beginning” about the aftermath of a war. She describes citizens having to clean up the streets, carry away the bodies, and rebuild the city. I think this poem could be therapeutic for anyone who has lived through a major historical event, such as a war or natural disaster and is struggling to find closure. Particularly for those of us living in Louisiana, this poem could be therapeutic for someone who has lived through a major flood or hurricane. As with a war, those who are affected by a harsh storm will have to work towards emotional recovery and healing, as well as having to literally rebuild the community.  Szymborska begins the poem by describing the work that is required to clean up after a war. There is rubble to be cleared away, bodies to be buried, and buildings to be repaired. In gruesome detail, she writes “Someone has to get mired / in scum and ashes, / sofa...

  Note: This post was written by Journe Cooper, a student at FranU, in 2022. The loss of a loved one leaves a heart crippled with sorrow and grief. It is not an easy task to learn how to process and accept what we are feeling and sometimes we may even feel like we don’t want to live on without that person. But have we ever thought about how our loved one would feel if we couldn’t cope? Or how they would want us to continue living on in their stead? There are many therapeutic options out there to help progress the healing process including poetry. The poem “When I Die” by Jalaloddin Mohammed Rumi expresses the thoughts of those who pass on in a way that helps their loved ones accept the feelings of loss. I believe this poem would be therapeutic to those who feel sorrow for a departed loved one and struggle with accepting such great bereavement.  One way this poem could be therapeutic is that it beautifully relates passing on to starting a new life. Rumi relays this message in t...

Note: This post was written by K.F., a student at FranU, in 2018. Over 300 million people worldwide suffer with depression. That is enough people to fill up over 2,800 of the United States’ largest stadium. That is equal to almost half the population of the entire European continent.   It just so happens that I fall into that statistic. Depression is a monster, an infection, almost an addiction – it’s so powerful and overwhelming and no matter what I do, I just can’t shake it.   It has the ability to mask even the most beautiful souls. It projects lies to its victim in a way so endearing that it seems we have no choice but to believe them. Quite frankly, depression kills.   It is estimated that of those treated for depression, the death by suicide rate is twice as high as it is for those not diagnosed with depression.   Thankfully, I am now able to manage my depression through therapy; however, I know that not everyone has a success story. There is an available t...

by Kristen Landry Note: This post was written by a Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University student in the fall of 2017. Poetry is an expressive art that can be extremely therapeutic. This aspect is unique in that it is subject to the individual conception of the reader. One piece of writing may touch the depths of a soul while a different piece of writing may not be affected in the least. This aspect is the beauty of poetry. “ Explaining My Depression to My Mother: A Conversation ” by Sabrina Benaim reveals therapeutic qualities to those struggling with depression by being relatable, providing comfort, and strengthening self-image. Sabrina Benaim displays a beautiful vessel of encouragement and mental aid for someone suffering from depression. The poem, “ Explaining My Depression to My Mother: A Conversation ” is a therapeutic poem because it has a way of conveying empathy. Benaim writes as though she understands the mind of a depressed individual. Perhaps she ...

by M.H. Note: This post was written by a Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University in the fall of 2017.  “ read closely. ” by r h Sin is a poem I ’ ve always found to be therapeutic in my own life. If you ’ ve read R.h. sin ’ s books (Whiskey Words & a Shovel I, II, or III) you know that most if not all of his poems seem to be therapeutic. He focuses a lot on life experiences that most people go through. Some of the poems are personal to the author, mentioning names and describing personal experiences, and others are specific but general enough to be relatable to a broad audience. The author writes about love, loss, motivation, inspiration, and through this I find this specific poem “ read closely. ” therapeutic to its audience. The poem “ read closely. ” talks about a toxic relationship and the effects of that relationship. I find this poem to be really relatable not only to myself but I know others who relate to it as well and I ’ m sure there are many...