Anne Sexton (1928-1974) was an American poet known for her “confessional verse”—a very personal style of poetry. She is known to have suffered from several…
Penned by Debbie Leads in 2003, this poem encapsulates the pain, confusion, and loneliness that result from comorbid diagnoses like depression and anxiety. The author’s…
Sue K. Green’s poem Dementia Takes Front Stage paints a graphic picture of the pain, loneliness, and confusion that sufferers of dementia go through as…
Sara Berkhimer’s poem speaks to individuals who hear voices as a result of trauma and mental illness. Her poignant words capture the pain, fear, and…
Waiting to Unfold is a collection of poems written by Rachel Barenblat describing the joys and challenge mothers experience during their first year of parenthood….
Brigid Davidson wrote her poem “Reading Is” at age 11 for a national poetry competition. Davidson’s poem describes her difficulty with reading, caused by her…
Lora Johnson’s poem “Abuse” tells the story of an abusive relationship. The poem highlights the helplessness and self-blame that the victim often feels. People ask…
Katje Kaase’s poem “Autistic Wonder” describes the unique worldview of a person with autism. The author’s imagery helps the audience develop a picture of how…
This poem by Kelly Cherry was written about her father, who was a professional musician that succumbed to Alzheimer’s Disease. The poem guides the reader…
“Cabrini Bridge” by Sam Gordon uses beautiful imagery to showcase the power of mindfulness and relaxation. The author’s internal struggles are juxtaposed with the calmness…
“I Am” was written by John Clare in 1844 while he was at the Northampton General Lunatic Asylum. Clare suffered from numerous psychological conditions, which…
Like many, when faced with tribulations and life’s numerous problems, Patrick Roche resorts to a creative means of self-expression. He explores healing through a creative…
Theodore Roethke was a celebrated poet who won the Pulitzer Prize in poetry for his book The Waking. Roethke was a heavy drinker and experienced…
Anne Sexton suffered from bipolar depression, and was treated using techniques that would, by today’s standards, be unsound. Her treatment ranged from the use of sodium…
This spoken word poem by IN-Q talks about the difficulty of overcoming addictions. The author talks about channeling your inner resolve and ends on a hopeful…
One Hundred Names for Love is an often-poetic book by Diane Ackerman about how she coped with her husband’s stroke and loss of language. The memoir covers her…
This poem by Amit Majmudar showcases the pain and confusion felt by mothers who experience a miscarriage, as well as how some try to deal with their…
Song, by Allen Ginsberg, is a poetic reflection on the important role of love in our lives. Ginsberg shows how love can be both a…
This timeless poem by renowned poet William Wordsworth may be familiar to many of us from grade school. Its meaning, however, is quite deep, as…
Love After Love is a poem by Derek Walcott, who received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1992. The text’s powerful imagery evokes themes of…
