Writing poems to help with mental health

I have written poetry since my teens and found it particularly therapeutic after my DH died. Love reading it too.
Strangely, the ‘muse’ often visits me when I’m travelling, by train or bus, or in cafes and not so much at home.

Have you thought about joining a writing group?

I started writing poetry when I was a child and have written on and off ever since. I agree it is therapeutic. I used to write funny verses when my GCs were little.
I must start writing again. Thanks for reminding me.

I used to write poetry when I was young, particularly when going through difficult times. Thank you Purplepixie, I might try again, especially as the dark days of Winter will soon be upon us.

I've written poetry off and on Purplepixie especially during the first years of our estrangement from our youngest son and only GC.

I have a dear friend who has had severe mental health problems in the past although now with treatment she has started to recover. She is now attending a poetry reading group and beginning to write her own. She says its been a godsend and she feels so much stronger. creative writing and the group dos it for me. I'm glad its helping you Purplepixie and I love your spontaneous poem.

I write poems. Some are complete rubbish but sometimes they come together. This one has a well known poem deliberately tacked into the end. I make no apologies for it.

Once upon a garden

I fancied myself a gardener once,
Knew a thing or two about the soil
And how to foil each loathsome weed and pest.
Quoted Ph levels with the best.

I won prizes for my flowers
And for lofty towers of spuds and carrots
Artfully displayed at local shows.
Any gardening problem? “Ask her; she knows!” they said.

Then one year, I got fed up and let it go to waste.
Decided all the hard work was
No longer to my taste. That my joints didn’t like it.
Let’s see what it can do without me, I thought.

But suddenly nothing knew its place.
There was sedition in the flower beds!
All manner of wild plants reared their heads
And battled for the space with F1 hybrids of less swarthy disposition.

Hollyhocks rusted; no rose could be trusted
Not to ramble unattended in an orgy with Wild Ivy on the fence.
Subtle hues no longer blended, and every corner the eye offended.
Where beauty had once reigned, there was no sense.

When folks looked down their noses; said “what happened to your garden?”
I felt I had to beg their pardon for the mess it had become, my lovely plot.
My excuses sounded lame; there was no-one else to blame
For the fact it had so badly gone to pot.

So I set to with a will and employed my former skill
To put it all to rights and bring back order.
Having pulled out weed and thistle, and with soil clean as a whistle
The eye could rest with joy on every border.

And I shall keep it so, for, as once a better poet said:

“A garden is a lovesome thing, God wot!
Rose plot,
Fringed pool,
Ferned grot,
The veriest school
Of peace; and yet the fool
Contends that God is not,
Not God! In gardens! When the eve is cool?
Nay, but I have a sign;
'Tis very sure God walks in mine”.

Thomas Edward Brown.

Please let us have some more of yours, Purplepixie, and anyone else out there who has the muse!

I had a poem published once. I can't remember it exactly. I have a copy somewhere but I can't find it.

Thank you so much for your kind words. They mean a lot. Mental health is a sod!

I have tried writing poems but it does not come natural but drawing does for me.
I had issues with mental health but it was unrecognised 30 yrs ago. It was caused by being in an abusive marriage which I had the courage to end.
You have posted on many threads and you are very talented and should be proud keep writing poetry.

Thank you so much to everyone for your wonderful kind words. I’ve felt like crying all afternoon but I’ve tried to keep busy. I too was in an abusive marriage for a long time. Thank you. 🤗

Let's have more of this.
Thanks Purple pixie and Greyduster.
x

You’re wonderfully creative Purplepixie I remember seeing an amazing jumper you knitted 👏👏👏

Thank you. Yes, I knit, crochet and do watercolour paintings.

I love writing poetry. Nothing to heavy just how I'm feeling at the time. I'd like to share this poem that I wrote a few years and it was published in a small publication. It's called 'Shall we dance?'

Shall we dance this life of ours?
Shall we tango through the years
We'll rumba through the happy times
And cha cha through the tears

We'll salsa through the sleepless night
And waltz through teenage doom
And we have our empty nest
We'll jive in every room!

And when the Reaper comes to call
We'll foxtrot in his face
We'll shine our shoes and give a wave
And tap dance happily to our grave

I do like that!👍🏻

Oh I love these. Please keep them coming, you talented lot.

Can I join in ?

Here’s one entitled

The Mystery of Happiness
The future is unknown
the past unchangeable
Take care of the present
for it’s what dreams are built on
Care for each moment
for happiness can be
as fragile as a butterflies wing
or a petal blown on the breeze
Happiness can melt and disappear
as snow on a sunlit day
Happiness is often found
long after it has gone
So open your arms
and welcome it into your heart
Open your eyes
and accept what is given