Nothing beats poetry for wallowing...
By Leca
@lecanis (16647)
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
November 18, 2007 9:55pm CST
Yes, there's happy poetry. But there's a heck of a lot more sad poetry. I'll admit that I perpetuate the problem, seeing as I write sad poetry often myself. It's therapeutic and cathartic and all that junk.
So tonight I'm in a horrible mood, thanks to nightmares and other issues, and so I'm wallowing. It's one of those things... sometimes it seems like you just have to wallow in your misery rather than trying to cheer up.
So far I've read quite a bit of Shelley, some Pablo Neruda (who wrote "Tonight I Can Write", one of my favorite sad poems of all time), and some Poe.
Who writes your favorite sad poetry? Do you read poetry when you are sad?
1 person likes this
11 responses
@TerryZ (22076)
• United States
19 Nov 07
Hi lecanis I never really thought about reading poetry when we are wallowing! But it sounds like a good idea along with the punching bag.LOL Do you think I should read some poetry? Or will it make me sad. Because Im now Im crying at everything. geez!
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
19 Nov 07
Hmm... it depends on what your problems are. If you're more stressed and angry, the punching bag is the way to go. The point of the sad poetry is to make you bottom out when you're already sad, sort of make it so that you're so sad the only way to go is up. Of course if you're crying at everything, you might already be there.
So up, up and away! :P
1 person likes this
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
19 Nov 07
Hehe, I'm trying not to eat when depressed at the moment, tends to lead to binging for me.
I don't know about poetry needing knowledge. I've been reading and writing poetry for as long as I can remember, so I guess it's just a natural thing for me.
Thanks for your kind words! :)
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
19 Nov 07
The best I tend to manage is a small sad smile, and the most common comment on my poetry is "bittersweet". I'm in the process of trying to bring forth a beautiful future from a dark past, and it's not an easy task. Hence the wallowing in sadness occasionally.
Haha, I've never thrown bricks at anyone for writing bad poetry, though I have once told someone to wait a year or two and live a little more and then try writing about a topic again.
@raijin (10345)
• Philippines
19 Nov 07
I'm not the right guy for poetry, but I do listen to sad music which I believe has a close resemblance to poetry. When I'm sad, I just stay inside my room and play some sad old songs with my ever-loyal friend which is my guitar..
I am sorry for these "nightmares" in your life continuously tormenting you, I just hope that you find some ways to overcome this dark stages in your life.
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
19 Nov 07
*nods* I listen to sad music too sometimes, but I'm more in the poetry mood tonight. I wish I could play music.
Thanks for your kind words. I'm hoping that things get better for me soon, but some stress I've had in my life lately seems to have kicked up my old nightmares and such too. It's a matter of both resolving the current stuff going on and getting back into therapy or something for the old stuff, eventually, but right now I just feel like I can't do anything. Hopefully it'll be better soon.
1 person likes this
@urbandekay (18278)
•
20 Nov 07
I agree and nothing as cathartic as writing it.
Not all sad by any means but include;
Adrian Mitchell
Dylan Thomas
William Blake
Adrian Henri
Wilfred Owen
and many others
all the best urban
1 person likes this
@frecklelip334 (1668)
• United States
20 Nov 07
i haven't read much poetry lately, did more back in my high school and college days, i love Poe....BUT i did like to read AND write it more when i was sad, depressed, and the such.
it's hard to write when happy for some reason. i can write about love (in happy AND sad ways), but not just about everyday happy occurances. why is this? strange!! plus i wrote more when i was going thru different things, now my life is pretty predictable, so not as much to share i suppose.....
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@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
20 Nov 07
It seems to be that most poets feel that way. I've expressed the exact same thing myself, and people usually say "Yes it's like that for me too." So you're definitely not alone in your feelings.
I hadn't been writing much over the past couple of years, and now I'm back to it, because of things going on in my life.
@swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
19 Nov 07
Yes. In fact, I've been reading "How Do I Love Thee" by Elizabeth Browning this morning. I've read it so many times I think I've memorized it. ^_^
I'm not sure though that it's a sad poem, I just feel sad reading it, since I'm heartbroken and all...hehe.
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
19 Nov 07
*nods* There are those times when any poem about love would become sad... I was reading a few love poems myself that weren't meant to be sad but had a sad meaning for me at this moment. So I understand where you are coming from here.
Being heartbroken is horrible.
1 person likes this
@swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
20 Nov 07
Yes, it is.
Love poems and love songs have the same effect. Even if it's not meant to be sad, it still make you sad if you're heartbroken. But if your love life is blooming, then even sad poems sound happy. hehe. I guess it depends on the person reading it.
1 person likes this
@sojournseeker (1244)
• United States
19 Nov 07
I found writing either prose, poetry or even journaling suffices a need to dwell. If written with creative imagination to boot, an experience comes to clarity and life's perspective has now changed. I think poetry, sad or happy, is generaly reflective of the composer feeling his or her way through words into resders minds and hearts and souls.
I wrote a piece on how writing is therapy . . . take a peeek
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/157666/writing_as_therapy_.html
sharing the light,
miss erica hidvegi
@Raymo23 (463)
• Uganda
19 Nov 07
It's like you are describing. I am crazy about Poe myself, but also read read Dickinson, Neruda and Edna St Vincent Millay. When I read Dickinson's work, I kind of identify with her-her poems are so deep, and thoughtful, like 'A drop fell on the apple tree,' and help pull my misery down.
You can also help by checking and commenting on my poetry. The link is thus-www.poemhunter.com/raymond-mpubani
1 person likes this
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
19 Nov 07
Dickinson is one of my old favorites... I need to dig out my book of her poetry actually. I wasn't reading her when I started this discussion because I couldn't find the book. I'm pretty sure I've read Edna St. Vincent Millay before, but it's been a while... I'll have to check her out again.
I'll check out your work. :)
@rabonnobar (103)
• United States
19 Nov 07
I write tons of sad poetry myself, so I usually just read stuff I've written in the past. I also listen to sad music (especially Blue October).
1 person likes this
@rabonnobar (103)
• United States
19 Nov 07
I write tons of sad poetry myself, so I usually just read stuff I've written in the past. I also listen to sad music (especially Blue October).
1 person likes this
@rabonnobar (103)
• United States
19 Nov 07
I write tons of sad poetry myself, so I usually just read stuff I've written in the past. I also listen to sad music (especially Blue October).
1 person likes this
