The Power of Poetry

Recently I interviewed black poet Drew Jackson for my podcast The Liturgical Rebels. We discussed how poetry can help us express the laments and joys of life while enabling us to sit longer in the questions life raises not looking for answers but sitting in the mystery of all things.

Like Drew I have discovered the beauty and the joy of translating my thoughts and emotions into written prayers and poems. Like him I find that writing prayers and  poems helps me to slow down, breathe deeply and take notice of the voice of God bubbling up from deep within me. Much to my surprise I find that poetry like this is a powerful force that can transform not only my own life but also the lives of others who read them and allow them to resonate in their hearts.   

I am not alone in my discovery as the blossoming of poetry shows. Many of us are discovering that writing and reading poetry stir all our senses in profound and enriching ways.