Healing with Poetry

In honor of  National Poetry Month, I decided to make my first post of the month something poetry related. 

I have been writing poems since I first learned how to rhyme as a child. (Thanks Electric Company!)
I was also one of those kids who was journaling at a very early age, so needless to say writing has been therapeutic for me on my grief journey.

The beautiful thing about poetry is that it doesn’t have to be pretty. You can basically adopt a free for all kind of attitude, put pen to paper and just go for it.

This was particularly appealing to me as grief is messy, disorganized and chaotic, and poetry can be as well.

Sometimes simple is best :

(Yes, Agony_and_Lipgloss is my poetry account name.)

Other times, I have gotten a little more serious :

Still, I cannot stay away from quirky pieces :

As you can see, I’m no Longfellow, but writing my feelings out, as disjointed as they may be, was helpful. Sharing them was equally, if not more so, so if you write, don’t be scared to share your work. You never know who it may find it relatable.

Reading poetry was also helpful in the early days.

I have a particularly fond memory of sitting in my parents’ mountain cabin about a month after Bret’s death, snow coming down outside, reading Emily Brontë, feeling very understood and calm.

If you’ve been looking for a new outlet for expressing your grief and healing, do consider poetry, either writing or reading. (Or maybe both!)  And if poetry isn’t your thing, journaling and blogging are other good options.

Thank you for reading my poetry offerings. I hope you will consider writing your own. If so, feel free to share them if so inclined!

About Layla Beth Munk

Layla Beth Munk is a blogger & author who was thrust into this widowhood journey abruptly and tragically on February 11, 2018. Her husband of 12 years had ended his pain once and for all. She soon made the decision that she would not let his final decision define the rest of her life or their daughter’s life, so with her sense of humor at the helm, she started writing about her newfound station in life. Grief waves still get to her, and probably always will, but with the help of her fellow widows as well as friends and family, she has been able to realize her dream of becoming a published author! Layla is so grateful to Hope For Widows Foundation for providing this level of support to her, and so many others! Layla has two amazing children, one who is grown and one who is almost grown. She lives in eastern Oregon and has a wellness & beauty background. Layla enjoys writing poetry, watching anime, and homeschooling her daughter.

Her blog can be found at laylabethmunk.medium.com and her debut novella, 24 Hours in Vegas, is available on Amazon.