Using poetry as a release for your grief is a healthy way to deal with the loss of someone special. Poets have soothed many raging feelings over the years and brought peace with their carefully penned words. Get suggestions for famous poems and other resources to help you cope while you're mourning.
The Benefits of Grieving Through Poems
When a loved one dies, there is a vast range of emotions that plague us. Some of these include sorrow, anger, fear, listlessness, disappointment and regret. As we deal with our heavy emotions, we need an outlet. Mental health professionals agree that releasing our grief is necessary. Those who bottle their emotions inside and never share them, wind up with physical ailments that can sometimes be severe. Stress and clinical depression can mount.
Poetry provides a means to deal with some of the pain we experience after the loss of a dear friend, family member, parent, child or spouse. Poetry can bring much sunlight to our dreary days. Some ways we can benefit from poetry include:
- Healing, which comes from the poignant words
- Understanding your own sorrow as you see others who have been through loss as well
- Feeling that you are not alone in your grief
- Hope that things will improve
- Comfort from the heartfelt verses
Types of Poetry
Poetry that can help us during our anguish include poetry about the following:
- Loss
- Sorrow
- Poems with a Christian theme
- Poems with a hopeful message
- Themes about love
- Messages about never forgetting
- Poems about loving relationships
Poets
From the list below, choose to read one or two poems by these famous poets:
- Brooding Grief by D.H.Lawrence
- Grief by Elizabeth Browning
- The Chimney Sweeper by William Blake
- At Castlewood by Emily Bronte
- Who Never Lost by Emily Dickinson
- I Can Wade Grief by Emily Dickinson
Creating Your Own
Some of the best therapy is writing. Putting your feelings onto paper after the death of a loved one provides cheap therapy. After all, all you need is pen and paper. Some enjoy writing daily in a journal. The beauty of a journal is that all of your pieces that you compose are contained in one book or notebook. Take your journal with you wherever you go. It can be a comforting friend when the tears are frequent. Find a secluded place to write your emotions, memories, and love for the one close to you who has died. Don't be afraid to pen some verses in the form of poetry on the pages of your journal. These words will help bring healing to your broken heart. You may choose to share your poetry with others or just keep it to read to yourself. As you write, think of the following:
- What your loved one meant to you
- What you miss about your loved one
- The things you learned from your loved one
- The way your loved one made the world a better place
- What you would like to say now to your loved one
- The things you enjoyed doing with your loved one
Continue Grieving Through Poetry
Even if time has passed since the death of your special someone, do not neglect to stay in tune with your feelings. Reading poetry written by others as well as writing your own verses will continue to bring healing to your heart and mind. Spend time grieving this way as the results will be a healthier you. Don't keep your sorrow inside, let it out through your pen or by reading the calming words of others who have traveled along the bereavement path.
