When poetry can help to ease the pain | Letter

Tim Maguire on poems that may offer solace while grieving ‘for a child that had not yet lived’

I was touched by Devika Bhat’s article about losing her baby (G2, 28 October) and shared it with my humanist celebrant colleagues. Devika says: “There is no established narrative around grieving for a child that had not yet lived and, it turns out, that is reflected in literature too.”

She is right that the subject is rarely discussed but, because of what we do, we are aware that there are many beautiful poems available. Noteworthy examples include The Noble Nature by Ben Jonson and When the Heart by Michael Leunig. Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, has also published an anthology of poems written by parents and other family members called A Gift of Words. I hope this information can help anyone affected find at least some solace at this most difficult of times.
Tim Maguire
Celebrant, Celebrate People

Continue reading...

from Lifestyle | The Guardian https://ift.tt/36bWyJP

Post a Comment

Previous Post Next Post

Contact Form