Poetry is a beautiful form of personal expression. The eloquent use of verse and rhyme soothe our aching hearts in ways we can’t always explain. Poetry’s use of imagery provides us with symbolism that so accurately makes sense of our whirlwind of emotions. The words start to unravel the chaos of our minds as we work through pain and change.
Like poetry, meditation often provides solace in the loud demands of the everyday. It comes as no surprise that poetry and meditation make a perfect combination. When we pair poetry with a meditative mindset, we get the chance to experience some truly transformative changes to our day and perspective.
The best poems to meditate on are the ones that speak deeply to our souls and situations. When looking for meditative poems or verses, try to find poems that help make sense of the circumstances that you find yourself in, while also enveloping you in a sense of hope.
In order to add a meditative component to a piece of poetry, try to couple your breathing with the poem. Read the poem a few times and find a rhythm for the words and the breaths to come together naturally. Allow yourself to be immersed in the imagery and to experience the poem in a larger way.
I will sometimes read pieces aloud or write them down to carry with me throughout the day. Sometimes, I will choose a small excerpt and memorize it. Those words serve as a mantra and a much-needed reminder to revisit again and again.
Reflecting on my favorite pieces throughout the day has provided me with daily inspiration and an exhale in stressful moments. I have listed some of my favorite poems to meditate on. I hope this helps you get started on your own poetic meditation journey.
Alex Elle:
even in doubt, I am
committed to trusting
my process. I am
leaning into discomfort
with faith, resilience,
and curiosity.
Mary Oliver
to live
in this world
you must be able
to do three things
to love what is mortal;
to hold it
against your bones knowing
your own life depends on it;
and, when the time comes to let it go,
to let it go
Nayyirah Waheed
if
the ocean
can calm itself
so can you.
we
are both
salt water
mixed
with
air.
-meditation
Danielle Doby:
the breaking
leads to opening
the opening
allows expansion
the expansion
creates more space
the space
invites growth in
Vera Agnes:
I am weaving the
tapestry of my life.
I am spinning the threads of my past,
the odd and knobbly strands, the
smooth and soft ones, it is all flowing
like silk through my hands once I sit
down at my loom.
Only when it all blends together, I can
see the unfolding pattern I was blind to
see before. When bits and pieces
seemed like bitter blocks before, they
now turn into a manifold ornament, to enliven my life on a tapestry of
experiences.
The more I weave, the more I trust.
Though sometimes I will bleed and
blister, it is inherent to the weaver’s
work and weave I must.
My tapestry is unique as yours, not
better or worse, simply mine and as my
tapestry grows, so do I.
I weave and I weep, I weave and I laugh.
I weave in darkness, I weave in light.
This weaving never ends.
