Life has a way of scribbling its most profound lessons on the margins of our hearts, often during the seasons when we feel the most undone. Love and loss are the twin threads that weave the tapestry of our existence: one brings the light, the other the shadow, and together they create a depth of soul that is both breathtaking and bittersweet.
When you are navigating the heavy silence of a quiet house or the echoing ache of a heart in transition, words can be more than just ink on a page. They become a sanctuary. In The Soul Scribbled Stories Universe, we believe that poetry is a transformative journey, a way to capture the essence of our vulnerability and refine it into resilience.
If you are searching for a bridge back to yourself, here are 15 poems that honor the pain of loss while lighting a candle for the strength that remains.
The Essence of Remembrance
1. “On the Death of the Beloved” – John O’Donohue
This poem is a gentle embrace for the grieving soul. O’Donohue doesn’t ask you to move on; he asks you to move in to a new kind of relationship with the one you’ve lost. He suggests that the beloved now dwells in a "safe place in our hearts / Where no storm or night or pain can reach you." It is a high-vibration reminder that love does not end; it simply changes form.
2. “In Blackwater Woods” – Mary Oliver
Mary Oliver is a master of using the natural world to mirror our internal landscapes. In this piece, she guides us through the look of the woods in autumn to reach a powerful conclusion about the human experience. To live in this world, she writes, you must be able to do three things: "to love what is mortal; to hold it / against your bones knowing / your own life depends on it; / and, when the time comes to let it go, / to let it go."
3. “The Guest House” – Rumi
Resilience isn't about being "tough"; it's about being open. Rumi’s classic work invites us to treat every emotion: even sorrow: as a visitor. By welcoming the "crowd of sorrows," we allow them to "sweep your house empty of its furniture" to make room for a new delight. It’s an evocative way to look at the transformative power of emotional honesty.
4. “Between Echoes and Ashes” – Brandi Jenkins
In the title poem of her collection Between Echoes and Ashes, Brandi Jenkins captures the delicate dance of womanhood and the stages of reclaiming one's self. This poem reflects on the mistakes we make in youth and the quiet maturity that comes from rebuilding after a difficult chapter. It is a mirror for anyone who has had to rise from the cinders of a past life to find a more empowered version of themselves.
5. “Separation” – W. S. Merwin
Sometimes, the shortest words carry the most weight. Merwin writes, “Your absence has gone through me / Like thread through a needle. / Everything I do is stitched with its color.” It perfectly captures how loss isn't a separate event but a new hue that colors our daily resilience.
Finding Strength in the Shadows
6. “Still I Rise” – Maya Angelou
Loss isn't always about death; sometimes it's the loss of innocence, dignity, or a dream. Angelou’s rhythmic, soulful anthem is the ultimate celebration of the human spirit. It’s a poem that "scribbles" strength onto the reader's spirit, reminding us that no matter how many times we are walked over, like dust, we rise.
7. “Hope is the thing with feathers” – Emily Dickinson
Dickinson personifies hope as a persistent little bird that sings even in the "chillest land." When love feels lost, this poem reminds us that the essence of hope is internal: it never asks for a crumb in return, yet it remains, feathered and fierce, within the soul.
8. “One Art” – Elizabeth Bishop
Grief can feel like a chaotic storm, but Bishop tries to tame it through the structure of a villanelle. She dryly suggests that "the art of losing isn’t hard to master," but by the end, as she struggles to write the final lines, we see the raw vulnerability beneath the mask. It’s a transformative read for anyone trying to find balance in the wake of heartbreak.
9. “Kindness” – Naomi Shihab Nye
Nye teaches us that we cannot truly know the "deepest thing inside" until we have known the landscape of loss. This poem positions sorrow not as an enemy, but as the teacher that allows us to walk through the world with a more empathetic heart. It’s an invitation to sisterhood and community, recognizing that our shared wounds are what make us truly kind.
10. “Whispers of the Wild” – Brandi Jenkins
From the collection Whispers of the Wild, this poem serves as a soulful reminder that even in the harshest winters of our lives, nature is quietly preparing for spring. It encourages us to slow down and pay attention to the "hidden truths" found in the wild. Resilience, in this context, is as natural as the seeds of kindness we sow, which continue to flourish even after we've faced adversity.
The Journey Toward Healing
11. “For Grief” – John O’Donohue
This is for the moments when life feels "strange" and "unstable." O'Donohue acknowledges the "ambush" of grief but promises that "when the work of grief is done, / the wound of loss will heal." It frames the healing process as a sacred task, a slow-moving river that eventually leads to a place of peace.
12. “The Peace of Wild Things” – Wendell Berry
When the "despair for the world" or the weight of personal loss grows too heavy, Berry takes us to the water’s edge. This poem is a spiritual experience, offering a momentary escape into the "liberty" of nature. It’s a beautiful companion to Brandi’s nature-inspired poetry, emphasizing how the wild helps us regulate our deepest anxieties.
13. “won’t you celebrate with me” – Lucille Clifton
Clifton’s work is an evocative celebration of survival. She speaks of having to "shape a kind of life" from the void. It’s a powerful assertion of resilience: "come celebrate / with me that every day / something has tried to kill me / and has failed."
14. “Funeral Blues” – W. H. Auden
Sometimes, we don’t need a pep talk; we need someone to acknowledge that the world feels like it should stop turning. Auden’s raw, unflinching look at devastating loss offers a sense of exclusivity in grief: a recognition that some loves are so big they leave the world feeling empty. Finding your feelings reflected so precisely is a step toward healing.
15. “Soul Scribbled Spotlight” – A Weekly Practice
While not a single poem, the Soul Scribbled Spotlight is a living, breathing tradition in our universe. Each week, Brandi Jenkins crafts a new piece: a whisper of light designed to touch the soul. It’s a personal invitation to pause, breathe, and find the quiet strength within yourself through words that linger long after they are read.
Words That Awaken the Heart
The path through love and loss is never a straight line. It is a winding trail through the woods, occasionally lit by the aurora borealis of a new hope or shadowed by the mist of an old memory. Whether you are finding yourself in the gothic time-slip mysteries of Whispers Across the Veil or seeking justice and redemption in a historical Western like Vestiges of Truth, remember that every story is a stepping stone.
You are not just a reader; you are a traveler in a universe designed to heal. Your resilience is the masterpiece that the Soul Scribbled Stories aim to celebrate.
May these poems be the companions you need today. Let them scribble hope upon your heart and remind you of the transformative power of your own beautiful, enduring soul.
Are you ready to dive deeper into the whispers of your own heart? Step into a world where every word is a bridge to your truest self. Visit www.brandijenkins.com to explore The Soul Scribbled Universe and find the story that was written just for you.
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