Benefits of Mindful Poetry

Hey guys, it’s Penny!

As a literature graduate, I love poetry. That’s why reading mindful poetry was something I truly enjoyed during my 8-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course. Our teacher used to read us one, and after that we had a little meditation break, lasting about 5 to 10 minutes. After finishing the course, I still continued to read those poems, and I believe they hold the power to draw your attention here and now.

You can read them when you wake up, before or after your meditation, or when you feel overwhelmed at work or school. You can listen to their audio versions and listen to them when you are doing your daily mindful walk.

Photo by Flora Westbrook on Pexels.

Here’s the first one;

Love After Love by Derek Walcot

The time will come

when, with elevation

you will great yourself arriving

at your own door, in your own mirror

and each will smile at the other’s welcome

and say, sit here. Eat

You will love again the stranger who was your self.

Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart

to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored

for another, who knows you by heart.

take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes,

peel your own image from the mirror.

Sit. Feast on your life.

Photo by Thiều Hoàng Phước on Pexels.

Wild Geese by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good

You do not have to walk on your knees

for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain

are moving across the landscapes,

over the prairies and the deep trees,

the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,

are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting-

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things.

Photo by Polina Kovaleva on Pexels.

The Guest House- Rumi

This human being is a guest house.

Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,

some momentary awareness comes

as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,

who violently sweeps your house

empty of its furniture,

still, treat each guest honorably.

He may be clearing you out

for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,

meet them at the door laughing,

and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,

because each has been sent

as a guide from beyond.

Let me know what you think about these poems! Was this mindful break useful for you?

Let’s meet in the comments below!

Until the next post,

Penny x

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25 responses to “Benefits of Mindful Poetry”

  1. These are so beautiful and so serene. I loved how atmospheric they all were because I could picture myself within them. Wild Geese was my favorite! I love the idea of reading them as part of a mindfulness routine. So creative.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Wow. It’s my first time hearing about mindful poetry and it’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve learnt now. Love after Love is my favourite. So beautiful.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I know, it’s very sentimental and beautiful! Thank you so much for reading and commenting xx

        Like

    2. Wild Geese is also my favorite too! Thank you so much for reading, Stephanie! I appreciate it x

      Like

  2. You share some stunning poems that illustrate what mindful poetry means and looks like! I love the idea of using one of my favorite mediums to get deeper in touch with myself too, so thank you for sharing. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  3. jenniferpickering22gmailcom Avatar
    jenniferpickering22gmailcom

    I need to save these! And try meditating after.

    Jennifer
    Curated by Jennifer

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Love this post and the idea of mindful poetry. I love these poems you’ve shared, I’d definitely be keen to get a book of them to keep on my bedside table!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. I love the last one! I always forget how much I used to love poems, thanks for sharing some 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  6. I love poetry and you’ve shared some incredibly touching pieces. I especially love The Guest House. Thank you so much for sharing and for the inspiration. I’ll be saving that one because I know I’ll be referring back to it. Thank you again!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. This is such beautiful poetry, poetry has the power to take you to another place when reading them x

    Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk

    Liked by 1 person

  8. beautiful poetry here, penny! i can just picture everything through the words. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  9. These are great poems, and we definitely appreciate and endorse mindfulness. Thank you for sharing!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Ooh I love all of these Penny! I think the Guest House would have to be my favourite, it really resonated with me in that I need to work on accepting what’s happening and trust that things will improve. Thank you so much for sharing x

    Liked by 1 person

  11. I’ve never heard of mindful poetry, but these are beautiful Penny. I like love the most; I felt like it spoke to me. Thanks for sharing.

    Jade MumLifeandMe

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Thank you for sharing this post! I love the idea of mindful poetry, and I’ve actually never heard of it before. Lovely words x

    Liked by 1 person

  13. I also love reading poetry and analysing it. It makes my brain work better.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Wow, these poems are so beautifully written! I’m loving the sound of mindful poetry, I do love reading poetry so I’ll defiantly be checking these poems out. Thank you so much for sharing with us lovely Xo

    Elle – ellegracedeveson.com

    Liked by 1 person

  15. I love mindful poetry and I love what you shared here; very thought-provoking and moving.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Wow! I’ve never heard of mindful poetry before. I would benefit if I could hear the audio version because I tend to scan through text instead of purposefully reading each word. Nevertheless, the descriptive language used in the poetry was lovely.
    Crystal | http://www.amazingbaby.app

    Liked by 1 person

  17. These are beautiful. I had never heard of mindful poetry, but I can see how it would be helpful. Thank you for sharing!

    Liked by 1 person

  18. I saved this so I can read them later, such beautiful poems! Thanks for sharing!
    TheQuietGirl | http://www.quietgirlblog.com

    Liked by 1 person

  19. I am not actually a massive reader of poetry but I can appreciate how beautiful and emotive words can be. The ones you shared have captivated this. Thank you for sharing x

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Your detailing about the course was just amazing. You’re right. They also improve creative imagination. These were calm and light upon reading. Liked them Penny! Xx
    Isa A. Blogger

    Liked by 1 person

  21. I am not usually a fan of poetry, but these ones were so so inspiring. Thank you for sharing them Penny, I see the benefits now x

    Liked by 1 person

  22. […] Read mindful poetry. Mindful poetry eases your anxiety and anchors you to this moment. I wrote a post all about my favorite mindful poems. You can find it through this link. […]

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