Using poetry to stay afloat through turbulent times - the story of the Tabernacle Poetry Group

I was very pleased to hear from the Healing Words Poetry group I used to facilitate at St Charles Hospital in West London. We shared all kinds of poetry which can help in difficult times over our four weeks together. I’m an advocate for the healing powers of poetry when one suffers with low mood: reading, creating, and enjoying poetry can lift out spirits.

Since then, the group have formed their own organisation called Tabernacle Poetry, to read, study and write poetry themselves. I couldn’t be more proud. One member has created a piece of ‘sound’ poetry as a result: not only has he written an astonishing poem, but set it to a soundtrack which brings its meaning alive.

‘The Music Box’ is an incredible piece of art, at once lyrical, poignant and moving. Set against the skilful use of the soundtrack, the combination of words and sounds are indeed an anthem for our difficult times. The poem is full of powerful repetition and imagery and the combination of the soundtrack with the words amplifies the its impact. I love the way the sounds affect the meaning of the words with clever wordplay: the sound of waves breaking at sea, for example, highlights the verb ‘to see’.

‘The Music Box’ is full of magic touches and I encourage you to listen - you’ll find the track at the bottom of this page. Now, over to the author of the ‘sound’ poem to share their background — Rachel

I’m from an English Irish background and an ex grammar school boy who has always been charmed by the mellifluous side of things - lyrics, poetry.

I am also a long time sufferer of depression, which is where Rachel Kelly comes in. I am lucky enough to have attended several of the classes she put on at St Charles’ Hospital,  West London about recovery from depression. I have also read her books on coping tips and diet which are really helpful.

It is through Rachel’s classes on using poetry to aid recovery that some friends who met at  those classes formed our own poetry appreciation and writing group. Pre-pandemic,  we met once a week at The Tabernacle to share poetry, both old and new. The Tabernacle is a community meeting place and cafe in West London.

Now we can’t meet up so we have a Whatsapp group where we discuss poetry, politics, and surviving the current limits on our lives, staying afloat.

I write and record songs when possible. Writing music and poetry is my weapon to fight off depression. It brings a lot of contentment and I share it with other members of Tabernacle Poetry who give me their honest opinion and encouragement. Most of all, the poetry group offers us all true friendship. We are an eclectic group studying a wide range of poetry together.

I have always had a keen interest in politics. It is the current political climate that brought about my sound poem below. I believe the blurring of truth with lies has become not only stifling but extremely dangerous and unsettling. Hence the poem below - The Music Box. This was composed and recorded between 2019 and 2020.

I hope you enjoy it, and make of it what you will. Thank you.

Acknowledgment

This piece of work could not have been created without the skilled input of Andy Lale, SRATs (MT) MA , the Music Psychotherapist who helped produce the recording.