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.
