7 Inspiring Poems That Will Help Ease Any Winter Blues

The winter blues are among us and after all the excitement of the holidays, it is completely normal to feel a little flat. It is so important to keep in tune with our mental health and do what feels right for you. Whether that be to curl up on the sofa with a cup of tea, to call a friend, or to go on a refreshing walk.

Here are seven mental health awareness poems that you may relate to or may give you a little perk on days where you need a pick-me-up.

1. Natural by Nayyirah Waheed

Expect sadness

like

you expect rain.

Both

cleanse you.

2. Rising by Carolyn Jess-Cooke

Sometimes it is enough

to survive

the day, withstanding

the tide that

whips sea-

debris of old car parts

and scattered walls

slicing up your shins

and palms.

But today

you got up

and even though it

would have been exquisite

to lay down

a relief to stay

under

you got back up

and through.

3. Stop by Susan Davidson

I used to say “Stop the world, I wanna get off”

Now I’ve realized I’m the one who needs to stop

Stop filling every waking minute

Taking every silent space and putting something in it

Stop striving, trying to hard to be the best

When what my mind is crying out for is a rest

Remember kindness, peace and loving

Just breathe, and feel, and notice without judging

Because, as Shakespeare said those many years ago,

“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”

4. Poem (unnamed) from The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur

when the world comes crashing at your feet

it’s okay to let others

help pick up the pieces.

if we’re present to take part in your happiness

when your circumstances are great,

we are more than capable

of sharing your pain.

5. OCD by Neil Hilbon

The first time I saw her…

Everything in my head went quiet.

All the tics, all the constantly refreshing images just disappeared.

When you have obsessive compulsive disorder, you don’t really get quiet moments.

Even in bed, I’m thinking:

Did I lock the doors? Yes.

Did I wash my hands? Yes.

Did I lock the doors? Yes.

Did I wash my hands? Yes.

But when I saw her, the only thing I could think about was the hair pin curve of her lips..

Or the eyelash on her cheek —

the eyelash on her cheek —

the eyelash on her cheek.

6. Resilience by Alex Elle

look at you.

still standing

after being

knocked down

and thrown out.

look at you.

still growing

after being

picked and plucked

and prodded out of

your home.

look at you.

still dancing

and singing

after being

defeated and disassembled.

look at you, love.

still here and hopeful

after it all.

7. Diving Into the Wreck by Adrienne Rich

“I came to explore the wreck.

The words are purposes.

The words are maps.

I came to see the damage that was done

and the treasures that prevail.”

This article originally appeared on our sister site, Yours Magazine.