When was the last time you sat down with pen and paper and the intention of producing poetry? For many of us, the answer is likely to be a very long time ago; when we used to write poems for our best pal or be prompted to wax lyrical on a topic at school.

Why not make a point of picking up a pen and notepad and allowing your creative juices to flow in the form of words. Not only will the exercise prove incredibly cathartic, once your skills have been sharpened a little you can produce personalised poems for your nearest and dearest on special occasions. You could do fun rhyming couplets for friends, or a more deep and heartfelt ode to love for your mother or partner. People will cherish this expression of your feelings for them.

Writing poetry is also a powerful way to process your own feelings. By taking the time to explore what you are really feeling and translate it onto paper you will probably discover things you hadn't previously been aware of and be in a position to release pent-up, negative emotions. Learn to express yourself in poetic word sequences and use it as an opportunity for introspection and ultimately for emotional growth.
