Comments on: This Week in My World: I Wrote a Poem http://www.speakstrong.com/newsletter/2007/10/08/this-week-in-my-world-i-wrote-a-poem/ By Meryl Runion and SpeakStrong, Inc. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:16:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Cynthia Mueller http://www.speakstrong.com/newsletter/2007/10/08/this-week-in-my-world-i-wrote-a-poem/#comment-3931 Cynthia Mueller Thu, 18 Oct 2007 22:04:15 +0000 http://www.speakstrong.com/newsletter/2007/10/08/this-week-in-my-world-i-wrote-a-poem/#comment-3931 Sometimes we get so tangled up in our own stuff that we just can't hear "regular" communication. By wrapping your words in a poem, you were able to breach the barriers Toni was erecting and express your heartfelt feelings. I may be overgeneralizing, but I don't think many of us read poetry that often. When someone uses poetry to reach us, the effect can be POTENT! I find it terribly difficult to listen when someone tells me how they feel about me. I automatically shut it down and try to interrupt. Sometimes I feel like the other person "is just saying that". Like they're just saying the words because it's expected. When someone uses another medium of communication, e.g., poetry or song, you can tell that they're serious and being honest. They have opened up and revealed themselves in a way that "just talking" can't convey. I have such a lovely, gentle image of you singing to your friend when she needed you. I can imagine how soothing it felt to hear your love expressed that way. Hospitals can be painfully hostile environments, the lighting, the noise, the temperature, the uncomfortable confinement, the strict schedules, the food, the overworked/overstressed staff, the smells, the machinery, the pokes/gropes, the anxiety -- not to mention her having to face her own mortality...How fortunate Cindi was to have you there to ease her suffering. How brave of you to share yourself so openly. Sometimes we get so tangled up in our own stuff that we just can’t hear “regular” communication. By wrapping your words in a poem, you were able to breach the barriers Toni was erecting and express your heartfelt feelings.

I may be overgeneralizing, but I don’t think many of us read poetry that often. When someone uses poetry to reach us, the effect can be POTENT! I find it terribly difficult to listen when someone tells me how they feel about me. I automatically shut it down and try to interrupt. Sometimes I feel like the other person “is just saying that”. Like they’re just saying the words because it’s expected.

When someone uses another medium of communication, e.g., poetry or song, you can tell that they’re serious and being honest. They have opened up and revealed themselves in a way that “just talking” can’t convey.

I have such a lovely, gentle image of you singing to your friend when she needed you. I can imagine how soothing it felt to hear your love expressed that way. Hospitals can be painfully hostile environments, the lighting, the noise, the temperature, the uncomfortable confinement, the strict schedules, the food, the overworked/overstressed staff, the smells, the machinery, the pokes/gropes, the anxiety — not to mention her having to face her own mortality…How fortunate Cindi was to have you there to ease her suffering. How brave of you to share yourself so openly.

]]> By: merylrunion http://www.speakstrong.com/newsletter/2007/10/08/this-week-in-my-world-i-wrote-a-poem/#comment-3429 merylrunion Fri, 12 Oct 2007 18:19:34 +0000 http://www.speakstrong.com/newsletter/2007/10/08/this-week-in-my-world-i-wrote-a-poem/#comment-3429 Susan, at the risk of sounding whimsical, I recommend you sing to her now. Susan, at the risk of sounding whimsical, I recommend you sing to her now.

]]> By: Susan http://www.speakstrong.com/newsletter/2007/10/08/this-week-in-my-world-i-wrote-a-poem/#comment-3227 Susan Tue, 09 Oct 2007 19:46:25 +0000 http://www.speakstrong.com/newsletter/2007/10/08/this-week-in-my-world-i-wrote-a-poem/#comment-3227 That is a very LOVELY poem. I would love to use it when the right time comes up with my friends. And, your story of Cindi is so very touching - it brought tears to my eyes as I wish I had thought of doing what you did when my best friend past away in 2003. To Cindi and Tammie - they were LOVED VERY MUCH!!! That is a very LOVELY poem. I would love to use it when the right time comes up with my friends. And, your story of Cindi is so very touching - it brought tears to my eyes as I wish I had thought of doing what you did when my best friend past away in 2003. To Cindi and Tammie - they were LOVED VERY MUCH!!!

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