The Healing Power of Poetry

There’s something about sitting with a blank page – whether it’s a notebook or an empty laptop screen - and letting your inner world spill out. For me, poetry is where I go to make sense of things. It’s where my emotions find shape, even when they’ve been buried under layers of distraction or hidden beneath invisible scars. Sometimes the words come out raw and unfiltered; other times, they rise gently, as if they are softly whispering hello.

I didn’t start writing poetry with the intention to publish or share. I started because I needed a space to process the world around me, and within me. A place where I could feel deeply. Where I could remember. Let go. And just be.

Why Poetry Heals

We all carry something. This could be unspoken grief, unanswered questions, past wounds, quiet joys, and small triumphs no one sees. I believe poetry gives those things a voice. When we give our emotions language, we take away some of their weight. Writing brings structure to chaos, and sometimes that’s all we need: a moment of clarity, a breath between the noise.

The beautiful thing about poetry is that it doesn’t ask for perfection. It doesn’t need punctuation or polished grammar. There’s no rulebook you must follow. You don’t need to rhyme, count syllables, or use a certain number of lines. You can, if that speaks to you. For me, free verse is my go to style. It allows space for reflection, messines, and truth. And that can can be incredibly healing.

When I write, I don’t try to be profound. I’m simply trying to be real. Often, that kind of honesty reaches further than any carefully crafted story ever could.

It’s Not About Being a ‘Poet’

You don’t have to call yourself a poet to write poetry. You don’t need a literary background, or a candle-lit corner with soft music playing in the background. All you need is something to write with.  A pen, a phone note, a scrap of paper, or a laptop, and the courage to feel. To be vulnerable.

Writing poetry is a way of checking in with yourself. It’s a quiet conversation between you and the parts of you that rarely get a voice - the masked parts, the memories that are hard to revisit. The softer parts. The ones that might feel a little broken. They are still yours. Still worthy of space. Still part of who you are.

Why I Keep Writing

I write to remember who I really am, what I’ve lived through, and how I’ve managed to rise, again and again. Also, I write for the younger version of me who felt too much and didn’t know what to do with it. I write to honor the emotions that don’t always have a place in everyday conversations. And I write with the hope that someone, somewhere, might read a line and feel just a little less alone.

For me, connection is the most healing part. A gentle reminder that we’re not the only ones navigating invisible storms.

So if you’ve been feeling heavy, restless, or disconnected, try writing. Not to impress others. Not to explain to the outside world .Just to express yourself. Let the words surprise you. Let them hold you.

You might just find, as I have, that poetry doesn’t fix everything… But it helps you carry it better.

Here’s one of my poems that speaks to that truth:

Be Kind

Be kind,
when the world feels sharp,
its edges cutting deep.

Be kind,
to the stranger who stumbles,
to the friend who drifts,
and to yourself,
most of all.

Kindness doesn't ask for applause,
it doesn't need an audience.

Be kind,
when the day runs long,
when patience wears thin.

Be kind,
because we all carry something.

And sometimes,
a single kind word or gesture
is all it takes to light the dark,
to make a difference.

Kirsten's debut solo poetry collection, Whispers of the Heart, is available now on Amazon.