Write your own poetry

Don’t worry. This isn’t a rehash of high school English.

I’m aware the mere mention of “poetry” triggers uncomfortable memories for some. It can transport us to a time when we were forced to pour over poems that seemed so removed from our reality - where we had to decipher why a poet wrote in iambic pentameter, the effect created by complying with the “rule of thirds'' and what the metaphor of the blue water really meant. Such activities, I feel, deprive poetry of its magic.

Poetry, I dare say, is so much more than literature. Poetry can be harnessed as a form of art therapy, where we can metabolise experiences, imbue life with a delicious richness and discover more about ourselves and our world.

Makes life beautiful

Even if we don’t see ourselves as writers, poetry can be a powerful way of garnering a greater appreciation for life. Through poetry, we can celebrate our most sublime experiences - like falling in love, an encounter with a spirit guide (I talk about an experience I had in this blog post) or an earth-shaking dream. Writing poetry helps us record and commemorate life.

In my own poetry, I have celebrated my love of writing, how being creative helps us connect with our true reality and how self-judgement can hinder creative expression.

As well as celebration, poetry can invite a medium for us to process traumatic experiences. When we allow ourselves to write poetry, we create a safe space to express what we opt to hide from others.

By writing poetry, we can channel, not merely what happened, but the repressed thoughts and emotions attached to the memories. This allows us to find meaning in our suffering as well as create art that deeply resonates with others. Turning hardships into art blurs the boundary between beauty and pain.

Empowers personal expression

Much of the writing we do in our daily life, whether it be work emails, finance reports or correspondence with our real estate agent, requires us to be conservative in the way we communicate. We can’t afford to waste anyone’s time or bamboozle with quirky expressions. We must make the point and make it quick.

With poetry, we can free ourselves by using more expressive vocabulary and syntax to convey meaning. Writing poetry helps us awaken our creative voice. We learn new words, discover creative ways words can be used to convey meaning and convert experiences into words that impart an emotional response in the reader.

The more we write poetry for ourselves, the more confident we become in our ability to express ourselves. We’re able to understand how words can be used to shape meaning and are equipped to apply that understanding in communicating effectively with others.

Invites greater self-awareness

The act of writing poetry is one that requires introspection. We need to look inward and observe our own patterns to convert experience into poetry. This positions us to learn more about ourselves.

By way of example, I’ve found myself, at different points in my life, imagining an alternate reality where I’m an actress. Not just any actress, but the leading lady in all my favourite movies. While this may sound like a harmless enough fantasy, I realised it needed attention when my visions made me feel bored with my real life. I became so enamoured by my glossy visions of Hollywood stardom that I started to hate myself - I felt so inadequate in comparison to the alternate reality I imagined.

As I became more aware of the effect these fantasies were having on me, I formed a desire to make my life feel so amazing that I don’t need to retreat to the alternate reality. To achieve that, I knew I had to ask myself some prickly questions.

Through my personal creative writing, I explored:

● Why do I fantasise about being an A-list actress?

● Why is my life not exciting enough to curb such fantasies?

● What am I depriving myself of in my real life to need such a fantasy?

● How can I make my life so enriching that the fantasy becomes obsolete?

This process enabled me to realise I wasn’t being enough of a “leading lady” in my own life. I felt powerless to outside circumstances (yes, I’m looking at you, COVID-19) and found I wasn’t sharing enough of myself with the world.

This is the main reason I started the Abi Rose blog. I wanted to give myself an outlet where I could share more of myself and connect with others. Earlier this year, I also started my energy healing journey - to better connect with myself, feel more grounded and understand the world we live in on a deeper level.

If I hadn’t given myself the breathing space to write for myself, I wouldn’t have understood why I escaped to the acting fantasy or what I needed to do to address the unmet needs it reflected. Writing poetry can enact a kind of doctor’s consultation, where we’re cast as the person who best understands who we are and what we need.

Let’s all cherish ourselves by writing poetry.