A Poetry Chemist?
At a recent Festival I noticed an unusual stall labelled Poetry Chemist. On request you could ask for poem that suited your mood- or even your longings. A word such as anger, joy, boredom or love could elicit a poem for you. This came on a roll of paper small enough to fit into a chemist style bottle. And It was advised read it that night for your ‘poetry fix. Crazy idea? Well, it was unusual but gave me food for thought about the power of poetry to touch our lives.
A language of our emotions
We all know that there is no instant fix for the flood of feelings that affect us throughout life. Poetry expresses this succinctly. Poetry often offers wise advice and can give us insight. It can make you smile, nod agreement, or just reflect on the wonders of the world.
Some poems have lasted down through the centuries because they do just that. Rumi the Persian poet spoke so eloquently about love, as does modern day Canadian poet Rupi Kaur, a university student who became an overnight sensation with her poetry book Milk and Honey.
Australian poet Judith Wright writes lovingly of the wonder of giving birth, in Woman to Man or about just looking in Birds her astonishingly lovely collection.
How poetry celebrates life
Don’t we often reach for a poem in our most celebratory moments- a wedding a birthday, a retirement and in our moments of deep sadness, a funeral, a farewell . there is the magic of those recorded words to touch our hearts so readily. So why not let poetry enter your everyday life, too? The appearance of Slam poetry has brought a new lease of life for poetry too, especially for young people.
Four ways you might bring poetry into your life
Enjoy the benefits of poets who can express something of our human condition and thus benefit our health and well being.
This is how…
Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright! Fiona Water / Britta Teckentrup
Having some poetry books to hand , especially anthologies.
A collection of poetry in a coffee table style book like Tiger!Tiger! Burning Bright Animal Poems (National Trust) can be left around for casual reading. American poet Caroline Kennedy has gathered together poems she loves in several books (best sellers on New York Times) Poems to Learn by Heart and A Family of Poems. There are many all-Australian anthologies to find online and to have at home, too.
A Family of Poems Caroline Kennedy
Letting the internet deliver poetry treasures even on a daily basis. Several poem-a-day sites exist. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/poem-of-the-day
Not only that you can chase up poets online that might have appeal to you from the old bush poets like Henry Lawson, Mary Gilmore or Oodgeroo Noonuccal to more contemporary voices like Les Murray or Judith Beveridge to look up online.
In my opinion having their book of verse to hand is better still as you tend to return to it.
Challenging yourself to learn by heart.
Sometimes my sister and I will set a challenge to learn or re-learn some favourite poems such as something funny by Spike Milligan or something more serious like Shakespeare’s most famous To be or not to be speech from Hamlet. Might not be your thing but try it with a friend. It can be fun.
Reading out loud and sharing.
Poetry reading, poetry sharing is a slowing down of the day, a moment or two for reflection on beauty or wisdom or humour or the hundreds of emotions in our lives. And mindful reading is good for our well being and health.
This is a call out for poetry that is readily and feely available and can enter into our lives easily, with so many benefits.
Libby Hathorn ©
Writer and poet
List of Australian Poetry books for kids
Mother Earth, Libby Hathorn (June 28th, 2023)
This is Home, Jackie French (April 1st, 2019)
The ABC Book of Australian Poetry, Libby Hathorn (June 1st, 2010)
A Land Down Under and Other Australiana Verses, Maggie May Gordon and Samantha Metcalfe (Jan 1st, 2021)
The Big Book of Verse for Aussie Kids, Jim Haynes (Nov 1st, 2009)
Our Home is Dirt by the Sea, Dianne Bates (May 1st, 2016)
Celebrating Australia, A Year in Poetry, Lorraine Marwood (Jan 1st, 2015)
Suggested book of Classic Australian Poetry (for kids or families) "Classic Australian Poems, (Random House Australia, Nov 1st, 2011) by Christopher Cheng"
Find more on Red Room Poetry's website redroompoetry.org AND Libby Hathorn's page libbyhathorn.com
Article Links to ‘Why it’s good for kids to read and learn poetry’ (on a international research scale)
above Mother Earth written by Libby Hathorn and illustrated by Christina Booth
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