The healing power of poetry

As both a poet and psychologist, I'm fascinated by the healing power of poetry.

 
Reading and writing poetry can make all the difference, particularly in the context of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety. 

Don't take my word for it. There are several psychological research studies that show clear evidence for the healing power of the written and spoken word. 

In 2021 a study conducted by Delamerced, Panicker, Monteiro and Chung used poetry as an intervention in the care of hospitalised children. The study showed that the poetry was therapeutic, and eased the children's anxiety and stress.  

Research in 2013 studied poetry that was used as therapy for abused and traumatised adolescents. Conducted by Grace Brillantes-Evangelista, the study revealed that poetry was significantly effective in alleviating the symptoms of depression. Reading or listening to poetry helped the adolescents to address and manage their symptoms. 

Finally, there have been several studies that have highlighted the positive effects of poetry in the care of adults who have been counsellors of domestic violence victims and their consequent post traumatic stress. A 2008 study by Boone and Castillo showed that people who are exposed to traumatic experiences and develop PTSD can read poetry to reduce their symptoms and destress their minds.

Poetry really is good for your mental health and well-being!

Steve Wheeler

Image from Pickpic using a Creative Commons licence

References

Boone and Castillo (2008) The use of poetry therapy with domestic violence counselors experiencing secondary post traumatic stress disorder symptoms, Journal of Poetry Therapy, 21 (1) 3-14.

Brillantes-Evalngelista (2013) An evaluation of visual arts and poetry as therapeutic interventions with abused adolescents, The Arts in Psychotherapy, 40 (1), 71-84.

Delamerced et al (2021) Effects of poetry intervention on emotional wellbeing in hospitalized pediatric patients, Hospital Pediatrics, 11 (3), 263-269.

A Modern Poetry Renaissance

I’ve always approached this blog in a very direct business oriented manner. Strictly appropriated to approaching poetry… the application of it, the nuts and bolts of it, the surface beauty of it all.

But this article is not about that. It is about THE LOVE OF POETRY… underneath the skin of it all… to the heart.

Anyone who has been in love knows one true aspect of it is about give and take. It’s about sacrifice. Time spent with the one you love. The sincerity of it… affection, sharing , and truth. The pure love. The good stuff.

This also applies to loving something other than a person. You think about it, spend time on it. LOVE IT.

Steve’s last blog about generosity in commenting on poetry other than one’s own hit a note with me in this regard. About not only writing poetry, but reading it as well. Beyond that… in encouraging the work of other poets. Not just giving lip service or gilding the lily as it were. But really reading beyond the words to the essence of the works.

The good stuff.

                                     —

When Steve approached me to become involved in all the Wheelsong projects, I was instantly drawn to the gravity of his vision. The mission statement of Wheelsong simply encompasses two things:

1.) To utilize the divine gift of poetic skill to make this a better world by giving back in some way bigger than we possess as individuals. To pool our talents together into a beautiful purpose to benefit the unfortunate. The brilliancy of the past and future Wheelsong Anthologies for Save The Children drives that. It’s at the CORE of our direction.

2.)To explore the poetry realms as we know them, on social media and beyond. To invite those wordsmiths, emotion evokers, and profound surfers of human spirit to be a part of our poetry community through participating in and drawing poetry power from our collective collaborations. To build a roster of international poets of renown with a similar vision.

Very simple mission. It is what makes me do what I do in my humble role in promoting the Wheelsong brand. It’s simple. We are a family. And we are growing.

                                     —

Today I helped my brother move my niece’s things out of her apartment in the city back to the country. She just graduated college. It was an endeavor! I injured my foot terribly last week, nearly critical. It was an effort. That’s for sure. But I did it anyway… and sang goofy songs with a smile on my face as we moved and had fun doing it, despite the hard work (and pain for me). 

Why did I do this? I’m hurting now, as I FINALLY got home. Why?! The same reason I’m writing this after reading Steve’s blog. BECAUSE I LOVE MY FAMILY. 

                                     —                                     

I don’t just read poems and comment as a moderator on Invisible Poets and Wheelsong Poetry on Facebook. I reach out to members on messenger. I try to read their works and mentor them. I even support them with non poetry issues. Why? BECAUSE I LOVE MY FAMILY.

I don’t just write this blog for some vanity protect. I do so in the hopes that one… just ONE poet might find something of interest and become inspired.

I believe we are approaching a modern poetry renaissance, brought about by a social media that is not being utilized to its full potential. This is why i do what I do. I spend most of my spare time reading and trying to comment on so many poems. Sometimes I ask myself… why am I doing this?!

BECAUSE I LOVE POETRY. And I LOVE MY POET FAMILY. 

Thus… I will continue to do what I do… which is encouraging, reading, and engaging with all the poets that are on my radar. ALL the poets, new and old favorites. I keep my palette open for new colors, and I thrive on it.

Steve’s blog said more about being generous and sharing with each other than I could ever say. However, it was THE BEST BLOG I HAVE EVER READ. Why? Because it absolutely reflects everything I feel about being a poet and being part of this poet community.

Let’s be make this poetry renaissance happen by uniting! Together… as a family. 

I do hope you feel the same reader! Please FEEL FREE TO COMMENT below and let me know how you feel about this topic. 

When I say I’d LOVE to hear from you… now you know why…

Matt Elmore

Be generous

Warning. The following article might be tough reading or controversial and may offend some. If you wish to come back at me on any of what follows, please do so, but please do so in a polite and civil manner. I'm more likely to respond to you if you do. If you fall out with me because of this, that will be unfortunate and it won't be what I intend, but that's life.

Here's my observation: Most poets prefer to read their own poetry to that of others. Many are inward-looking and can be self-centred. I know, because in the past I behaved like this myself. That was ... until I discovered an important truth. But I will elaborate on that a little later.

I have seen plenty of evidence of selfish behaviour on the Facebook groups I have managed in the past two years. Poets are generally very willing to post their own work, but pay scant attention to the work of others. They enjoy gaining feedback, but are less willing to make the effort to read and comment on other poets' work. There are some that never ever comment on the poetry of others. This means that many poets are ignored, failing to attract any comments or likes. They become discouraged and despondent. Because all poets also crave attention. It's a vicious and ironic circle. The very self-centredness of poets ends up isolating them from their own communities. 

Let me tell you how the Facebook group algorithm works: The more active a poet is in reading, reacting and commenting on the work of other poets in a group, the more their posts become visible on the timelines of those others. The obverse is also true. If all you do is post, post, post, and pay no attention to the work of others, then you are likely to become isolated and ignored, because, literally, no-one will be able to see your work. On Facebook poetry groups, it's all about the connection.

Here's the important truth: A great benefit of reading the work of other poets is that you gain better insight into diverse themes, styles, genres, techniques, rhyme schemes, formats and alternative approaches. It's a fact that ever since I began to read the work of other poets avidly, I have learnt an incredible amount about how to improve my own work, and I have discovered a treasure trove of different formats and approaches to writing poetry. 

And I'm still learning! I don't go a day now without reading at least 40-50 poems from other writers. It gives me inspiration too. Sometimes a line or a phrase will set my thoughts running, and before I know it, I have written a poem that I would never have even thought of, it I hadn't read that particular piece by another poet. 

So please... when you next venture into one of your Facebook poetry groups, don't just do so to post your own work. Be generous. Do take some time to read, react and comment on the work of others in your group. Give freely of your time and efforts. Others will appreciate the time and care you take giving your feedback. It is sure to pay off for you in the long term. And it will mean that you truly become an active member of the community.

Steve Wheeler

Image from Pixabay used under a Creative Commons Licence

Beyond the Pyre

I have known Imelda Garcia for almost two years, but we have never met in person (She lives in Texas and I'm in Plymouth, UK). We have worked together as Admin and moderators on a number of Facebook poetry groups and I have grown to know her and her poetry from a distance. She's been through a lot in her life and this book epitomises many of her trials, joys and challenges. It is a book suffused with optimism and uplifting verses. 

It is with great pleasure that I announce the publication of her debut collection through the Wheelsong Books press - Beyond the Pyre. Here's the blurb I wrote for it...

Beyond the Pyre is the stunning new collection of poetry by Imelda Zapata Garcia. The poems, dwelling on themes of family, love, loss and redemption, are saturated in imagery and metaphor and infused with chicano cultural references. The poet invites you to journey with her through her mind and memories of life, love and relationships. Beyond the Pyre is a poetic anthem to the art of surviving the flames of life.

...and here are a few endorsements from poets and writers:

Beyond the Pyre is a fascinating delve into the mind and deep soul of an absolutely brilliant writer.  Taylor Newman, lyricist for Alice Cooper

Imelda writes with such a rich complexity, her words full of stunning detail.  Brandon Adam Haven, poet and author of Into the Grey 

Imelda Zapata Garcia unearths a mine of poetic treasures. Rafik Romdhani, poet and author of Vapour of the Mind 

Rich in verse, a tapestry of colours to illuminate and shine. Sarfraz Ahmed, poet 

A resounding affirmation of life. Matt Elmore, author of Constellation Road 

Garcia has found her literary voice through this collection. A deft use of rhyme schemes and themes of internal strength and delicate beauty resonate throughout. Genevieve Ray, poet, author and playwright

Treasure to cherish forever. Charlene Phare, poet and author of Cobalt Skies 

A depth of lyricism that really resonates. Rhiannon Owens, poet

An anthem to the art of surviving the flames of life. Steve Wheeler, poet and publisher 

A galvanic poetess with a depth and a sonorous voice that ignites on paper. Alan Patrick Traynor, Irish poet and author of Until the Broken Clouds Answer

Beyond the Pyre is available on Amazon and selected stores across the globe in Kindle, softcover and hardcover editions. All the relevant links can be found on the Wheelsong Books website.

Steve Wheeler

What’s so funny? (Writing humorous poetry)

What’s So Funny? (Writing Humorous Poetry)

Someone told me last weekend at a birthday party that I was so funny. I told them funny looking maybe… 

What constitutes as funny anyway? I once heard that the beginning of comedy started when a tall skinny caveman was arguing with a somewhat chubby caveman over an attractive cavewoman they both were attracted to. Neither one was very good looking. 

She saw this and started to laugh. I wonder why?! 

I’m guessing there were no Calvin Kline underwear models back then. Loincloths maybe…

Folly. Opposites. The folly of opposites bends the grin of the absurd. 

Pertaining to poetry, a nice funny poem is often a welcome change in content. We poets often tend to be a broody bunch! However, I have observed that we also have our excessively silly sides too, and often brilliantly creative besides being light hearted.

As for humorous genres of poems, there are a few to consider.  There are funny haikus, tricubes, clerihews, backwards poems, cinquains, nonets, tongue twisters, repetition poems, list poems, and updated nursery rhymes to name a few. 

I would go into how to write each one, but this article is to simply whet your taste into which direction you may go in writing funny poems. All the above are easily found through your favorite search engine…

Most poets just go for a more free verse style, which allows them to make their own rules. No one can say they are wrong if they cannot define what is right. Sounds good to me…

I wrote such a poem today about how southerners in the United States like to rib each other. I mean they like to tease the living bejeebers out of each other… locking horns like an old married couple! Then they will turn around and buy each other lunch. It cracks me up every time! 

                                 

A bit of it goes: 

guy called me beetlejuice for my crazy hair mane 

I called him hambone for lack of a better name

he asked me if I was ever going to work today 

I told him I’d run him over if he got in my way

                                          —

I drive a forklift at work. Of course I would never think about running a guy over. Just being silly getting him back for him asking me if I was going to work today, when it was obvious we had both been killing ourselves trying to keep up.

It’s these opposites that are fun to play with. 

Whether it is being funny or looking funny, different looking cavemen, or teasing someone when they are actually a good friend, all opposites are fair game. 

Hope you enjoyed this little blog. I hope it gets you to thinking about some various types of humorous writing that you may be able to craft to your own particular brand of personal comedy. As usual, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COMMENT BELOW! 

I’d like to hear how you write your humorous poems! What makes them funny? Why do you write them? I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW! 

Thanks for reading! I’ll see you around. Well not really. I’ll read you around maybe? Take care.

Matt Elmore

Found poetry

In a follow up on a previous post on this blog, I would like to introduce and develop the idea of 'found poetry'.  If you're really strapped for inspiration to write a poem, and your muse seems to have deserted you... try found poetry. 

Yes... found poetry. As the name implies, you need to look for it. It can be hidden anywhere, and it's in plain sight. It's a little like cut-up poetry. Take any text you can find .... it can be an old newspaper or magazine article, or text from a book, or even a restaurant menu. Just about any printed text will do. 

Next, sit down with a highlighter pen, and begin to seek lines, sentences, words and phrases that will constitute your found poem. You can do this with the highlighter, as I have in the photo above... or if you prefer, use a dark marker pen to blot out words you don't want to use. 

In the image above, I used a page from an old university alumni magazine. The resulting poem, I think, is quite pleasing... it has rhythm and rhyme, and it actually makes sense in a quirky kind of way. 

I have written at least half a dozen (no... make that six) poems in this fashion. It doesn't take long once you've mastered the skill of spotting lines and phrases that can fit together. It may not work for you first time, but do persevere and let's see what you can come up with!

I welcome comments as ever, in the comment section below.

Steve Wheeler

Inverting Literary Devices (Wringing Out Words)

Steve Wheeler and I had a fascinating exchange of texts not long ago. He really is a wringer and twister of all terms literary, and I am always thrilled to witness him in full blast poetry extrapolation mode.

I am also absolutely certain he has a washboard somewhere in his office where he wrings out thesauruses and dictionaries, then reuses the wordy wash water to concoct his wooly masterpieces! I only wish I knew what kind of soap he uses…

We were going on about literary devices… and he was turning them inside out.

When I told him about the Invisible Poets Facebook Group exercise I wrote on extended metaphors, he said I should use a contracted metaphor. When I asked him what that was… he replied he just wasn’t sure yet… he had just made it up! I was like “Wha…?!!”

He went on to explore something he called anti-similes.. a total opposite contrast of “as” or “like”… always unlike something… then pointed out a few. His examples included … “as a pig wearing lipstick” or “as a walrus wearing a corset”… and as a kind of “jumper on there” I wrote back “as an elephant walking a tightrope”… 

It was just fun bouncing ideas between poets, but I started to see a window into my colleague’s poetic genius. He was creating inverted devices!! 

A bright light bulb lit up over my head like in the old Looney Tunes cartoons!!! “Ehh…what’s up doc?!” Wow… the possibilities…

That’s when Steve’s literary wringer went into a spin cycle… and he washed out another zinger… “Anti-Malapropism - misappropriation of a word for another word and then reverting back for effect”…  with the example “Tome becomes time becomes rhyme”. I answered “Rote becomes mote becomes rhyme”. He answered, “You got it. Go to the front of the class!!!”

Well… he didn’t really say go to the front of the class but it sounded good as I just wrote it…

Anyway (!),… what an amazing turn!!! To take  a word, follow it with a word that only sounds like or may imply that word, then follow it with another word or words that actually resemble the subject word.

Some more exchanges followed into the twilight zone of extemporaneous exhalations of exemplary english proclamations that soared into my favorite kind of preposterous…

I offered, “Jellyfish baited with toast becomes a toast to jellyfish becomes a stinging belly of jelly.”… to which Steve killed it with, “To all intent and purpose becomes to all intensive purpose becomes a porpoise on intensive care!” 

A porpoise on intensive care! 

My favorite of his was “Ravel's bolero becomes unravelled hero becomes unruffled Nero”! He claimed, “It’s a great way to write abstract internal rhymes.”

This was just a little fun texting between poets, but it proved to be much more than that. It put a tiger in my idea tank for sure… It also showed me a glimpse into the mind of a professor and opened up a whole new range of possibilities pertaining to our craft!! I’m not sure what Steve would term these morphing brainstorms of his to construct new ideas, but I just referred to them as “Inverted Devices” for the purpose of this blog.

I had to share them with YOU! 

Have you done this before reader? Can you think of any such “devices” you can turn inside out? Maybe you might even offer a few originals  of your own… or some examples pertaining to the above “Anti-similes” or “Anti-Malapropisms”…

 I would LOVE to see them! If so, PLEASE POST THEM IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.

And stick around… we will continue to explore a few more of these inverted devices together next time!

Until then, the writer writes… write on my friends…

Matt Elmore