Just like a favourite song, a poem can help us to process our thoughts and emotions.
Jonathan, our Pastoral Services Co-ordinator at St John of God Burwood hospital, facilitates a “Words for Wellbeing” group each week with inpatients that explores how poetry can give voice to some of the emotions and thoughts that sometimes bubble away just below the surface.
Sometimes a little serious as we give some space to listen to that inner voice of wisdom we each have and other times the path of self-discovery provides some much-needed laughter.
One of our patients wrote the following poem during her last admission.
'Wandering'
I have wandered down roads that I thought
would never end.
I have seen things in life that have sent
me round the bend
In all my years of trying, my way forward
has never been clear
but now I know from my learning that I’ve
been held back by my fears.
I want to learn new things, a different
way to see
I long to feel some happiness and feel
content to just be.
but I know the road is long for I’ve
wandered from my way
but I know that I will keep trying to see
a better day.
