Loss is rarely a sudden storm that clears the air; more often, it is a lingering mist, a soft echo that resides in the quiet corners of our days. It is the shadow cast by love: a testament to the depth of our connection to the world and to one another. When we navigate the landscape of grief, we are not merely "moving on"; we are moving through a transformative journey that refines our essence and hones our resilience.
At Soul Scribbled Stories, we believe that words possess a unique alchemy. They can capture the fragile beauty of a moment and transmute the heavy weight of sorrow into a source of quiet, enduring strength. Poetry, in particular, acts as a gentle guide, offering a rhythmic sanctuary where our vulnerabilities are not just seen, but celebrated as part of the human tapestry.
Whether you are mourning a person, a season of life, or a version of yourself that no longer exists, these fifteen poems and collections offer a path back to your own inner power.
The Raw Beauty of Letting Go
To find strength, we must first allow ourselves the grace to feel the depth of the void. These first few selections honor the honesty of loss, acknowledging that love and grief are two sides of the same sacred coin.
1. “In Blackwater Woods” by Mary Oliver
Mary Oliver had a profound gift for weaving the human heart into the natural world. In this poem, she reminds us that to live in this world, we 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." It is a foundational lesson in resilience: the recognition that love is worth the eventual cost of goodbye.
2. “On the Death of the Beloved” by John O’Donohue
O'Donohue’s words act as a soothing balm for a heart that feels adrift. He frames the departure of a loved one not as a disappearance, but as a transition into a "safe place in our hearts, where no storm or night or pain can reach you." This perspective offers an evocative sense of peace, shifting the focus from absence to an internal, eternal presence.
3. “Funeral Blues” by W. H. Auden
Sometimes, we need poetry that screams when we cannot. Auden’s raw honesty about the total devastation of loss: "He was my North, my South, my East and West": validates the feeling that the world should stop when our personal world does. By giving voice to this intensity, the poem eventually allows the reader to breathe again, finding strength in shared vulnerability.
4. “Between Echoes and Ashes” by Brandi Jenkins
Within the Soul Scribbled Universe, the collection Between Echoes and Ashes serves as a poignant mirror for the soul. It traces the journey from the turbulent fires of youth to the reflective stillness of adulthood. It doesn’t shy away from the "ashes": the mistakes, the heartbreak, the fragments of what used to be: but instead shows how we can rebuild a stronger, more independent self from the remnants. It is a poetic celebration of the stages of womanhood and the stubborn insistence on joy.
5. “Separation” by W. S. Merwin
"Your absence has gone through me / Like needle through thread. / Everything I do is stitched with its color." In just three lines, Merwin captures the pervasive nature of loss. There is a quiet empowerment in acknowledging how our experiences stitch themselves into our identity, creating a rich, complex fabric that is uniquely ours.
Finding Sanctuary in the Wild
Nature is a master of cycles. It understands that for the new growth of spring to emerge, the old must fall and decay. By turning our gaze toward the wild, we find a reflection of our own ability to flourish after hardship.
6. “The Peace of Wild Things” by Wendell Berry
When the "despair for the world" grows too heavy, Berry invites us to rest in the "grace of the world." There is a restorative power in simply being present with the "wood drake in his beauty" and the "great heron." It is a call to slow down and find strength in the unhurried rhythms of the earth.
7. “Whispers of the Wild” by Brandi Jenkins
Continuing this dialogue with the earth, the collection Whispers of the Wild reminds us that the seeds of love we sow: even in the coldest winters of our lives: will eventually bloom. The poems here are designed to be "words that awaken the heart," using vivid imagery of mountain peaks and night skies to ground the reader in a sense of wonder. It teaches us that resilience is a natural state, as certain as the return of the dawn.
8. “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost
Frost’s classic meditation on the transience of beauty is a gentle reminder that change is the only constant. While it speaks to the loss of "gold" and "Eden," its underlying message is one of acceptance. When we accept that nothing stays the same, we gain the freedom to fully inhabit the beauty of the "now."
9. “Instructions on Not Giving Up” by Ada Limón
Limón looks at the trees in spring: "the messy, green, / and predictable": and finds a metaphor for human persistence. Even when we feel hollowed out by loss, there is a biological, soul-deep impulse to "put on the green" and try again. It is a beautiful, modern anthem for those seeking the courage to re-emerge.
10. “The Unbroken” by Rashani Réa
This poem is a powerful litany that moves from brokenness to the "unshatterable" core within us. It suggests that our wounding is not a sign of weakness, but a doorway to a deeper, more resilient essence. For anyone navigating a personal transformation, these lines offer a transformative spiritual experience.
The Rhythm of Resilience and Hope
The final movement of our poetic journey focuses on the rising: the moment when the quiet strength we have cultivated begins to move us forward into a new light.
11. “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou
Perhaps the most famous anthem of resilience, Angelou’s words are a fierce declaration of self-worth. It reminds us that no matter how much the world tries to "write us down in history with bitter, twisted lies," our spirit remains as buoyant as dust, as certain as the tides. It is a masterclass in reclaiming one's power.
12. “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers” by Emily Dickinson
Dickinson personifies hope as a tireless bird that "perches in the soul / And sings the tune without the words." The strength found here is quiet and interior; it doesn't require a loud announcement. It is the steady, persistent pulse that keeps us warm in the "chillest land."
13. “The Window” by Rumi
For those grieving a distance or a separation that isn't final, Rumi offers the "window open from my heart to yours." This mystical assurance suggests that love defies physical boundaries and time itself: a theme that echoes through the gothic time-slip narrative of Whispers Across the Veil.
14. “Soul Scribbled Spotlight” (The Weekly Invitation)
Every week, Brandi Jenkins curates a special Soul Scribbled Spotlight, sharing a poem of the week that reflects love, resilience, and quiet strength. This is an invitation to pause, breathe, and let words touch your soul in a "members only" atmosphere of intimacy and exclusivity. It is a ritual of healing, ensuring that the journey of reflection never has to be taken alone.
15. “Let This Darkness Be a Bell Tower” by Rainer Maria Rilke
Rilke urges us to transform our suffering into a signal. "If the drink is bitter, be the wine." This is the ultimate expression of the Soul Scribbled philosophy: that our most difficult experiences are the raw materials for our greatest transformations. By embracing the darkness, we find the resonance that allows us to ring out across the world.
A Journey Back to the Soul
As you sit with these verses, remember that poetry is not merely a collection of words on a page; it is an invitation to witness your own depth. Whether you are finding solace in the rugged Old West justice of Vestiges of Truth or exploring the serendipitous paths of Chance Encounters, the goal is always the same: to awaken the heart.
We invite you to linger in these spaces of reflection. Let the rhythm of the prose and the imagery of the wild be the catalyst for your own healing. You are stronger than the ashes, and your story: just like these poems: is still being scribbled.
Are you ready to let your own story find its voice? Step into the warmth of our community and discover words that linger. Visit www.brandijenkins.com today to explore the full Soul Scribbled Universe and join our newsletter for a weekly whisper of inspiration delivered straight to your heart.
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