Struggling with severe mental-health issues for years, Eleanor kept her problems secret for fear of people’s reactions. In her spoken word poem, “Broken Isn’t Beautiful,”…
Renowned British poet Lemn Sissay suffered terrible abuse in foster care. He was subjected to violence, emotional cruelty, racism, and severe maltreatment in a system…
Once a patriotic and willing recruit of the British army and decorated twice for his incredible acts of bravery during the first world war, Military…
Peggy Stewart’s poem ‘Mysterious Pain’ depicts anxiety and panic attacks. The author compares the unprovoked and unpredictable terror associated with a panic attack to a…
Henry Rollins’ spoken word poem “I know you” touches on feelings of loneliness, isolation, and inability to fit in. He starkly portrays the pain of…
As an advocate for mental-illness awareness, spoken word artist Rage Almighty often deals with themes of depression and suicide in his poetry. In his recent…
To my daughter I will say, ‘When the men come, set yourself on fire’ – In love and In War, Warsan Shire “Teaching My Mother…
“The Morning After I Killed Myself” is a poem by 22-year old Meggie Royer, who writes at Writings for Winter. She has two published poetry…
William Wordsworth experienced much loss in his life. His parents died when he was an adolescent, and several of his own children died when they…
In this emotionally evocative spoken-word poem, Terisa Siagatonu draws parallels between youth facing urban street violence and soldiers experiencing combat. Both, Siagatonu claims, are at…
