The Power of Words

When events spiral out of my control and the familiar, tried and tested is ripped away, then I find I always get comfort from words in some form or another – writing, reading, listening. The image of the tortured writer only able to get in touch with the muse when in emotional turmoil is a cliche, but there is little doubt that the most profound and most moving literature often comes from people going through personal pain.

At my mother's funeral at the end of December, all I knew waa that I wanted to write a poem about her – a funny poem that summed her up. That got me through the service. I felt compelled to write it, and to stand up and deliver it, because for me, creating a little piece of art was the only way I knew to honour her. It wasn't a great poem, but it said what I want it to, it was very personal, I think she would have liked it.

I haven't written my blog for a while because I just haven't felt like it, to be honest. I felt guilty, but now I'm being more understanding of myself. I knew I would be able to write again when I felt ready. As it turns out, this hasn't been when everything had settled down, as I thought would happen. In fact, things are currently more turbulent than ever. But words have always been my friends and words are all I have to make sense of things and record things. So I will keep putting one foot in front of the other and one word in front of the other and see where it takes me.