Poetry Commons

Welcome to our Poetic Medicine Community forum!

We invite you to join the Institute for Poetic Medicine's programs and participate in this virtual poetry circle by sharing your poetry and responding to each other's writings. Please respond to other shares by reflecting back the words or lines that resonate with you.

Notes for our Group:

It can be daunting to share what you've written, as most of us have questions on if the poem is good enough. We are aware of the vulnerability felt when sharing from our heart, and allowing ourselves to be seen. Therein lies the powerful work of Poetry. When we create a visible expression of what is hidden inside, we can allow ourselves and others to hold it with reverence and respect. This in itself is a healing act. This is all to say, please share yourself with us and be seen! We so look forward to the growth and communion that can happen as we regularly write together.

There are two important guidelines for this group that we ask you to adhere to:

The first is confidentiality. It is important to create a safe space where we don't have to worry about our words or writing being shared outside of the circle without our permission. If you are excited to share your writing with a wider audience, please say so.

The second guideline is respect. We come from many different perspectives, and even if you disagree, it is important to honor and show respect for one another's experience.

Poetic Medicine is about allowing each person in the circle to be themselves and to listen to themselves more deeply. Feel free to comment on words or lines that resonate with you, express a feeling evoked by what you read or a quality that is interesting and you're curious about.

If you see a post that does not align with these agreements please contact us – our admin team will respond appropriately if any of these guidelines are not being honored.

We are building community and that takes time, compassion, patience and a willingness to work together.