The Magic of Found Poetry
Last Friday I returned from a week-long silent, directed retreat where I served as spiritual director and creative materials organizer. This work is so profound and important, and I treasure the timeless moments that hold us in communal silence. During our week, my latter role simply consisted of choosing, bringing, and setting up two long tables full of art materials for retreatants to use on retreat as part of their prayer and process. I set out the usual: colored pencils, oil pastels, collage materials, paints of various kinds, rubber stamps and stamp pads, good quality mixed media paper, and packets of clay. My favorite creative practice to share, however, is a bit less “typical”– found poetry.
It has become somewhat of a signature for me in facilitating retreats. I clip and clip and clip words and phrases out of book pages, and, if it’s a Zoom retreat, grab a pinch for each attendee, and send it in a little vellum envelope across the miles. If the retreat is in person, I bring my glass bowl of clippings, lovingly tended and sorted in my own personal meditative practice, and watch as the miracles unfold. The gifts of time, surrender, intuition, and Spirit combine to yield the most beautiful results. It is one of the most satisfying parts of caring for those who meet me on retreat, and the shimmering, heart-opening poems that emerge never cease to amaze me.
What is it about this practice that is so stirring?
When I enter into this practice of found poetry, something in my spirit becomes softer and more receptive. I engage wonder and let go of control. As I grab a pinch of phrases out of my little glass bowl, I forget all distractions and worries and let the words themselves pray through me.
And it’s not just me. Countless times during or after retreats creative souls will share with me what a profound practice this has become for them. Hearts are given voice, “a-has” happen, and the Divine moves and speaks; the little words are the ingredients, but Love stirs the bowl, and community is often the vehicle for expression. On retreat last week, for example, directees shared their poems with me in session, and even in the closing circle, evoking tears from many of us who listened. Sharing the wonder of these experiences with others adds such a depth to the process, and offers a reminder of who we are as co-creators with the Divine, of our lives and of the world. Beauty and creativity are not meant to be luxuries, or sidelined as peripheral to “real work”. That which is created from the heart moves in healing ways, rippling outward in mystery. I know this to be true.
I’d love to hear from you if you would like to share your own experience of found poetry or if you have any questions about the process. Contact me at the link below.