By Pam Alberts
Reading poetry can be a very enjoyable experience for anyone. It can also be used for much more. We can learn, or remind ourselves of, valuable life lessons. One example would be poems about living in the present moment. This experience can provide our lives with great richness. Small miracles come and go each day and if we don’t notice them they’re lost. Why do we let miracles pass by unnoticed?
If we take things for granted, we fail to notice special moments. Also, by focusing solely on accomplishing tasks or going through our busy day, we miss all the wonders around us. These things can include the warmth of a friendly touch when we need support, the kindness of others, the miracle of nature, the laughter of children, etc. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to wake up each morning loving and appreciating everything we have around us each day? We can by paying more attention to them.
Poetry can also provide needed inspiration we can hold on to. We all go through rough times. Support from others can be extremely important. In addition, poems can help us step away from our own situation, lift our spirits, and remind us that “this too shall pass.”
Poetry has been referred to as “the language of the soul” and can help us express ourselves. Capturing our individual and universal experiences and emotions, often in vivid detail, provides us with a sense of validation. This can be a wonderful and healing experience. As human beings, we all need validation on some level.
These few examples are just the beginning. Poetry groups can be a great way to ponder and discuss the meaning of a variety of poems and how they apply to others as well as you individually. You might be amazed at what it does for your enjoyment and your life.
Pam Alberts, MSW, LICSW, CEP, MBA is Assistant Director at the Lincoln Council On Aging. She runs a Poetry Appreciation for Non-Poets group at Bemis Hall – 15 Bedford Road, Lincoln, on Mondays from 11:15 to 12:15.
