Stan Frith is a poet and founder member of the appeal board for Friends in Need: Depression Alliance’s wonderful online initiative, about which you can read more here: https://friendsinneed.co.uk. Stan is just about to launch a second book of poetry, Behind the Smile, with proceeds going to help increase the reach of Friends in Need. His work has a fan in me, and Lidia Vianu of Bucharest University has called him a ‘naturally gifted author’ and has said that Behind the Smile ‘will appeal to a wide range of audiences. His beautifully crafted pieces reflect a prodigious range of thoughts, impressions and feelings… with one goal in mind: to chronicle his understanding of the nature of life.’ You can read more about his life and work at http://stanfrith.co.uk
I
have written poetry for as long as I can remember. In 2008 when my son died
tragically after a four-year battle with depression, I wrote a considerable a
number of poems, all of which are included in my (soon to be published) second
book of poetry, Behind the Smile. It
helped me get through the grieving process.
When Rachel
invited me to do a guest post on her blog, I figured why not? Where Rachel is
donating her author’s royalties from Black
Rainbow to SANE and United Response, I am donating all proceeds from Behind the Smile to Depression Alliance.
http://www.depressionalliance.org
Poetry is a wonderful catharsis – it helps
me cope. Firstly to understand my feelings and then to express them in a way
that otherwise might be difficult for me to articulate.
However,
poems are not only a way of coping – that’s an over simplification. They are a
way of capturing feelings, moments in time, and of remembering. Also of helping
others to tap into their emotional self in the hope they will also look beyond
today and into the future positively and with optimism. Many people have an
intuitive sense that voice in general and poetry in particular can be healing.
This proved to be the case when I shared the poems I wrote after the loss of
Jason with friends and those I love. They became a collective path to healing.
As a
poet there is, in my opinion, no greater compliment than someone wanting to
share in the emotions that you feel – whether they be highs or lows and
especially if depression has touched your life – as you work towards healing
and growth. If it makes them feel less alone then it is reward enough for
any poet. Below, I’ve included two poems that I wrote on the worst day of my
life.
CAN YOU NOT SEE?
Because
my face
creases
with laughter
and
my mind is often
steeped
in song,
can
you not see
I
suffer greatly after
tolerating
pain
so
long?
Because
my eyes
hide
tears of sorrow,
and
you do not sense
my
inner cry,
can
you not see
tho’
my aching heart
still
beats,
I
might die?
IF
If
I can get through this sad day,
contain
the pain inside of me,
no
matter how heavy my heart,
or
how dark the moment may be.
If
I can but keep on believing,
what
I know in my heart to be true,
then
darkness will fade into morning,
and
with this dawn a new day, too.
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