Poetry Magazines - The best collection of poetry magazines online - Simon Armitage

I measure every Grief I meet
With narrow, probing, Eyes –
I wonder if It weights like Mine –
Or has an Easier size.

I wonder if They bore it long –
Or did it just begin –
I could not tell the Date of Mine –
It feels so old a pain –

I wonder if it hurts to live –
And if They have to try –
And whether – could They choose between –
It would not be – to die –

Most of us, like Emily Dickinson who wrote this poem, have experienced the descent into depression and questioned the value of our suffering, yet despite this she led her reclusive life without either ‘going mad’ or committing suicide. When we feel like this we feel truly alone: that the size or weight of our own unhappiness is greater than that of others and that we are sinking into the depths while others float happily on the brighter waters above.

One of the best therapies I believe for this malignant sadness which can invade and blight our lives is to read, or even better, write a poem each day or paint a picture to reflect not only the dark side of life but realise through words and images the greater dimensions of the human spirit and realise the beauty and richness of the life we have been given.

There is no better way of coming to terms with the hurt and pain Emily Dickinson describes so succinctly. We at SANE, through the compassion of the hundreds of volunteers who answer calls and the counsellors who sustain people through times of emotional crisis, try to offer similar consolation without denying the grief and hidden mental wounds. We also offer Arts Grants to people with mental illness so that they can experience the healing powers of creative expression.

It is wonderful that Magma is to use its 10th anniversary edition to give a voice to people with mental illness and celebrate the positive side of mental health on World Mental Health Day 2004.