How to write a healing poem

by
Diana Raab

Do you remember earlier this month I reviewed author Diana Raab’s Healing with Words? When I posted the review I promised you a special appearance on the JBBC blog by the author herself. Today stopping by on her WOW book tour, the author shares the secrets to writing a healing poem with us. You also have the chance to win her latest book Healing with Words: A Writer’s Cancer Journey. Simply leave a comment below to be in with a chance to win.

How to Write a Healing Poem by Diana Raab, MFA, RN

For years psychotherapists have suggested poetry to their clients as a coping mechanism for difficult times. This mode of healing is particularly valuable for those who have difficulty expressing themselves verbally. Writing can empower and enable a person to understand what is going on in their mind and in your heart.

When constructing a healing poem, it is important to write from the heart. Rhyming is not important, as a matter of fact, narrative or prose poetry is probably easier to do. It’s also okay to cry when you are writing. Tears show that you are getting in touch with the emotions of your heart and shows that you have accomplished exactly what you should have accomplished.

My two poetry books, Dear Anaïs: My Life in Poems for You and The Guilt Gene, consist of narrative and prose poetry and are both basically chronicles of my life—surveying the good and bad times. In reading through these two collections, I realized how often I turned to poetry for both healing and celebration. Poetry is an excellent genre to sue when emotions are too powerful or intense. In fact, writing poetry has helped me through three pregnancies laden with bed rest, the loss of numerous loved ones and helped me heal through two bouts of cancer.

When diagnosed with early breast cancer (DCIS) in 2001, the first thought which whipped through my mind was not being able to see my children grow up. Even though I was a nurse, I was flooded with fear. I also worried about the genetic factors associated with cancer and the increased chance of my daughters also becoming afflicted with the same demon. This terrifying concern inspired the following poem:

To My Daughters

You were the first I thought of

when diagnosed with what

strikes one in eight women.

It was too soon to leave you,

but I thought it a good sign

that none of us were born

under its pestilent zodiac.

I stared at the stars and wished

upon each one that you’d never

wake up as I did this morning

to one real breast and one fake one;

but that the memories you carry

will be only sweet ones, and then

I remembered you had your early traumas

of being born too soon, and losing

a beloved grandpa too young. I have

this urge to show you the scars

on the same breasts you both cuddled

as babies, but then I wonder why

you’d want to see my imperfections

and perhaps your destiny. I cave in

and show you anyway, hoping you learn

to eat well and visit your doctors, but then

I wonder if it really matters, as I remember

what your grandpa Umpie used to say,

“When your time’s up, it’s up.”

May he always watch over you!

The idea of writing a healing poem is about turning a negative into a positive. Little instruction is needed. It’s simply a matter of sitting down and writing. For those of you who either like tips or are intimidated by poetry (probably because of the way it was taught in grade school), here is a list of suggestions which might help you:

–          start with an image, action or strong emotion

–          begin with “Suppose …,” “I confess,” “I wish,”

–          provide as many details as possible

–          use metaphors

–          if it’s your first poem, begin by writing 4 lines per stanza

If you are still having trouble getting started, make a list of your fears and then choose one to write about. Describe how you feel.

Category : Guest Blog, Poetry, Psychological impact of cancer
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