The lines: "I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree" and "Take thy break from out my heart and take thy form from off my door/Quoth the raven, nevermore" are from two well known poems; Joyce Kilmer's, Trees and Edgar Allen Poe's, The Raven. Perhaps you memorized or recited these poems in school or at home and still, today, remember poetry you knew. Poetry had a special place in our early lives. Now it has an even greater role contributing to health and well being in older years.
People who are poets by profession often write into their later years. May Sarton's last poetry collection, for instance, Coming Into Eighty, was published months before her death at 83. Asolando, by Robert Browning, was written and published in 1889, the year of he died at 77. Now more and more people who aren't poets are beginning to write poetry in later years or are turning to it and reading it more in their 70's and 80's. Some are also encountering it as a therapeutic tool used for memory loss or as an aid to recovery from illness.
Poetry calms, heals and inspires. It's therapeutic. In this short video ,from the Healing Words project, a neurologist and doctor talk about how poetry most likely acts on our brains to produce the effect we experience as healing. Poetry therapy is growing as a healing modality used by teachers, counselors, doctors, and spiritual leaders many of whom subscribe to the National Association for Poetry Therapy now in it's 30th year. This paper by Poetry Therapist Perie Longo describes the clinical process of poetic healing and it historic roots.
Poetry is also used to reach people living with memory loss and Alzheimers and to give expression to their voices. Poetry's universality and rhythmic meters make it easier to remember than other things and satisfying to recite. The Alzheimer's poetry project (APP) uses a "call and response" method of poetry reading with small groups or individuals. After reading a few poems together the facilitator helps individuals craft a poem or guides the small crowd in creating a "communal" poem. Here's a charming example of group poetry from the Dancing Hands website. Here are some specific examples of the many delightful ways group poetry is generated, created and enjoyed.
April is poetry month. What are you doing to bring its healing properties into your life? Thinking of writing poetry? Check out these worksheets designed to guide therapeutic poetry writing or these exercises geared toward jumpstarting your creativity. Thinking about reading more poetry? The Poem in your pocket project sends daily poems to you via email. The Writer's Almanac posts a daily poem accompanied by super short essays about other artists celebrating a birthday that day. If you're funloving-- think about attending a poetry slam! In this article on an upcoming all ages slam in Encinitas, California, the organizer says, "You haven’t lived until you’ve heard an 80-year-old-woman read poems that will make you blush." So, whether you lean toward scorching poetry or pastoral scenes find the poet or muse within-- may she bring you health and happiness!
Update 12 July 13. In this interesting interview from The Sun magazine poet and teacher Alison Luterman explains how memorizing poems by others has provided her with emotional guidance and teaching throughout her life.
Update 21 November 13. This short article in Slate magazine talks about the positive effect poetry can have in medicine and healing. It profiles Dr Campo, a professor of medicine, won the 2013 Hippocrates Prize for poetry about medicine.
