Art and Poetry: My Healing Companions on the Journey of Grief
As an artist and poet, I've often turned to creativity during life's most challenging moments. When faced with grief, art and poetry have been my lifelines—allowing me to navigate through loss, express emotions, and slowly heal. There's something healing about sitting in the studio, surrounded by quiet, with only my thoughts and creative tools as companions. These moments of solitude have become sacred spaces where I can finally let my guard down and allow my grief to flow freely.
In the depths of sorrow, words often fail us. Yet when I pick up a brush or pen, I discover a way to release the swirling storm within. Art becomes my silent language, where every color and brushstroke speaks of emotions too profound for speech. Sometimes it's the bold strokes of red that express my anger at loss, or the gentle swirls of blue that capture the depth of my sadness. Each piece I create becomes a reflection of my inner world, a snapshot of pain, remembrance, and ultimately, hope.
Poetry transforms my grief into lyrical beauty. The act of writing verses gives me an opportunity to shape my narrative amidst chaos. Through metaphor and rhythm, I can finally articulate feelings that seemed uncontainable. Some days, my poems emerge as raw, unfiltered expressions of pain; other days, they take the form of gentle memories, like pressed flowers between pages of a beloved book. I've learned that grief poetry doesn't always need to be dark—sometimes it captures moments of unexpected joy, like remembering a loved one's smile.
The creative process itself is inherently therapeutic. As I immerse myself in each project, every stroke of paint or carefully chosen word releases a fraction of the weight I carry. During these moments, I often find myself remembering small details I thought I'd forgotten—the sound of footsteps in a familiar hallway, the smell of perfume, the texture of a well-worn sweatshirt. These memories, both painful and precious, flow into my artwork and verses.
The relationship between grief and creativity isn't always straightforward. There are days when I can't bear to pick up a brush or write a single line, when the pain feels too fresh and raw. I've learned to honor these moments too, understanding that healing isn't linear. Sometimes creativity means simply sitting with a blank canvas or an empty page, acknowledging the loss and let the tears flow.
Sharing my creations has brought unexpected rewards. When others connect with my work, I'm reminded that grief is both intensely personal and profoundly universal. Through these shared experiences, we build a community of understanding hearts.
This healing journey through art and poetry has led me to create my first book, "Mom's Journey Home"—a collection of poetry paired with colorful artwork chronicling the precious final weeks I spent with my mom in hospice care. Each page holds memories of our time together, capturing moments of both heartache and grace. The poems rest upon vibrant, abstract backgrounds—each painting a pure expression of emotion through color and movement. These abstract pieces create emotional landscapes that complement the written words, allowing readers to feel the depth of each moment in their own way.
The process of creating this book has been both challenging and healing. Revisiting these intense experiences through art and poetry has allowed me to honor my mother's memory while processing my own grief. Each colorful background flows into the next, creating a visual journey that mirrors the emotional one, while the poems tell the story of our final weeks together. My hope is that by sharing these intimate reflections, others might find permission to explore their own grief through creative expression.
Thank you for reading. You will be able to find 'Moms Journey Home' soon on Amazon.
Have a creative day.
💕Alisa Marie