Turning My Pain Into Poetry

Editor’s Note: If you’ve experienced domestic violence, the following post could be potentially triggering. You can contact The National Domestic Violence Hotline online by clicking “chat now” or calling 1-800-799-7233.

I love April.

April is not only my birthday month, it’s National Poetry Month here in the U.S.

I’ve loved and written poetry for as long as I can remember. To me, it’s as necessary as the air I breathe. So it was natural for me to incorporate my illnesses into my writing when I started progressing from episodic migraine to daily chronic, when it felt like depression had the upper hand, when traumatic memories came knocking, and when life in general dealt out lemons.

It’s also my self-therapy (I despise journaling personally) and a part of how I reach out to others… nothing says “me too” like reading your own thoughts, struggles, pain, loves or triumphs in blazing emotion from another person.

And there’s nothing like that “I’m not the only one” moment. I know because I’ve been there — from being an abuse and domestic violence victim to motherhood to depression to chronic illness to life in general to beautiful moments.

Turning my pain into poetry, into a blog post, into art, into outreach, into advocacy, into connection with others.

I have never subscribed to the belief that our struggles are given to us as part of a mysterious greater plan/purpose or to better us, but I do strongly believe that we can turn anything into an opportunity to help others.

In doing so, we give it our own purpose.

This National Poetry Month, I’m celebrating that purpose.

Shattered glass next to poem that reads: Break Point. She breaks like shards of brittle glass sparkling as the pieces rain down, She breaks. Copyright S.M.W.

Poem: Endless Rain. Crack!! I stagger back, Hand pressed to my cheek, Covering the angry imprint, Of your own raised hand. Cowering, I am trembling, In the face of your rage, Awaiting the next blow, That I know will fall. Crying... The tears scalding, My bruised and battered face, And I apologize to you as your fists rain down. S.M.W.

Rear view of woman standing holding a sword, next to poem that reads: Warriors don't feel like heroes while in the midst of battle. They're just doing what needs to be done to survive against overwhelming odds. And that is exactly what makes us warriors and survivors... we are the ones who keep going. S.M.W. 2015

An open book with illustration of stars over it, with Poem named Magician that reads: I write, I release the words, I create the words, I shape the magic, I send forth the song, I hold in my heart, I write. S.M.W. 2015

Image of woman with red hair and black wings, wearing a red dress, and a Poem that reads: If I am an angel, Paint me with black wings, I've always had a fondness for dark and lonely things, If I am an angel, Give me wings of night, Let me roam the shadowed spaces that are not touched by light

An open book with illustration of stars over it and a poem called The Storyteller's Song that reads: A story runs through my veins, A tale of beauty and of pain, A tale of threads not woven by fate, But of the struggles I've faced, And of the choices I've made, A tale that grows with each new day, A tale of sorrow and one of strength, A tale that is my own to sing. S.M.W. 2016

If you or a loved one is affected by domestic violence or emotional abuse and need help, call The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

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Thinkstock image by 4maksym

Mental Health

Turning My Pain Into Poetry