5 Chronic Illness Poems That Will Bring You Comfort
Simply existing with a chronic illness can be mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausting. The pain, discomfort, and uncertainty that comes with chronic illness can be overwhelming, leading to anxiety and depression. In such scenarios, people often turn to literature, music, and poetry for comfort. In this article, we bring you five chronic illness poems that encapsulate the challenges, emotions, and struggle of living with a chronic illness.
1. The Art of Losing by Elizabeth Bishop
Elizabeth Bishop’s poem, The Art of Losing, is a meditation on the inevitability of loss in life. It is an excellent poem for those struggling with chronic illness, as it speaks to the experience of losing one’s health, one’s strength, and one’s vitality. The poem encourages us to accept the inevitability of loss and to learn from it. The final stanza of the poem reads:
“it will look like disaster.
I looked at that face, dumbfounded.
The lights went out.
It was a case of the blind leading the blind
and yet for the first time in my life, I didn’t
feel lost in the dark.”
This stanza reminds us that while losing one’s health can feel like a disaster, it can also be a moment of profound clarity and growth. We must embrace the darkness and learn to navigate through it.
2. The Daffodils by William Wordsworth
The Daffodils by William Wordsworth is a poem that celebrates nature’s power to heal and comfort us. The poem speaks to the transformative power of nature, particularly when we are grappling with chronic illness. The final stanza of the poem reads:
“For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.”
This poem is a reminder to take solace in the beauty of the world around us, even in times of darkness and uncertainty.
3. Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe
Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe is a deeply poignant and emotional poem about love and loss. While the poem is often interpreted as a love poem, it can also be viewed as a poem about the pain and alienation that can come with chronic illness. The final stanza of the poem reads:
“For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling, my darling, my life and my bride,
In the sepulchre there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.”
This poem encapsulates the loneliness and isolation that can come with chronic illness, as well as the way in which love can provide comfort and solace, even in the most challenging of circumstances.
4. The Sick Rose by William Blake
The Sick Rose by William Blake is a dark and unsettling poem that speaks to the inevitability of death and decay. The poem is an allegory for the destructive power of illness and how it can infect and destroy everything around us. The final stanza of the poem reads:
“And the angel told Tom, if he’d be a good boy,
He’d have God for his father, and never want joy.
And so Tom awoke; and we rose in the dark,
And got with our bags and our brushes to work.
Though the morning was cold, Tom was happy and warm:
So if all do their duty, they need not fear harm.”
This poem is a powerful reminder of the toll that chronic illness can take, and the importance of fighting against it with all our might.
5. The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot
T.S. Eliot’s The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock is a poem that speaks to the struggle of living a life that feels unfulfilled and unsatisfying. The poem is particularly relatable for those living with chronic illness, who can feel as though their condition is limiting their ability to live a full and meaningful life. The final stanza of the poem reads:
“I have measured out my life with coffee spoons;
I know the voices dying with a dying fall
Beneath the music from a farther room.
So how should I presume?”
This poem is a reminder that while chronic illness can limit us in many ways, it is still possible to find meaning and purpose in life. We must measure our lives with more than just coffee spoons and strive to find joy and fulfillment wherever we can.
In conclusion, these five chronic illness poems offer comfort and solace to those dealing with the challenges of living with chronic illness. From accepting loss and embracing nature to finding love and meaning in the midst of pain, these poems offer a much-needed dose of inspiration and hope.
