Sue Booth
I have always loved poetry since I was a girl. The first poem I remember hearing was Cargoes by John Masefield, which was read to us at Infant School when I was five years old. I distinctly recall thinking I wanted to travel to all those exotic, far away places he described, and I am sure it inspired my love of travel. It is still my all-time favourite.
Poetry can have a great influence on us and there are poems to suit every mood and situation. Poetry is powerful and its economy of language says a great deal in a few words and makes us think deeply about matters. It expresses a whole range of intense emotions - joy, beauty, sorrow, love, protest, comedy.
It is well known that poetry can be therapeutic and cathartic. Words can heal. Whenever I am stressed, reading poems calms me down.
I also know, from my personal experience as a freelance reminiscence facilitator with groups of older people, that by using poetry, which is extremely evocative, I can help and encourage participants relax, smile, and remember and share their memories and stories. I often use poems to illustrate the different themes and topics we are discussing and reading a poem at the end of a session is an excellent way drawing all the strands together as a
conclusion. Many older people can remember poems they learnt at school word perfect and they enjoy reciting them
in reminiscence sessions.
I think poetry in all its many forms and varieties can give us pleasure and something of real
meaning and significance.
Poetry can have a great influence on us and there are poems to suit every mood and situation. Poetry is powerful and its economy of language says a great deal in a few words and makes us think deeply about matters. It expresses a whole range of intense emotions - joy, beauty, sorrow, love, protest, comedy.
It is well known that poetry can be therapeutic and cathartic. Words can heal. Whenever I am stressed, reading poems calms me down.
I also know, from my personal experience as a freelance reminiscence facilitator with groups of older people, that by using poetry, which is extremely evocative, I can help and encourage participants relax, smile, and remember and share their memories and stories. I often use poems to illustrate the different themes and topics we are discussing and reading a poem at the end of a session is an excellent way drawing all the strands together as a
conclusion. Many older people can remember poems they learnt at school word perfect and they enjoy reciting them
in reminiscence sessions.
I think poetry in all its many forms and varieties can give us pleasure and something of real
meaning and significance.
