This eye-catching headline appeared above an article in The Times in recent weeks. Underneath it was a large picture of a pill bottle with the label:

Poems:
To calm, comfort and soothe the soul

Directions:
Take Poem as required -
Repeat when necessary.

The article explored the British public’s booming interest in poetry. Even before the Poet Laureate’s popular poem about the Queen Mother, and before the wide public interest in the Queen’s choice of an anonymous poem for her mother’s funeral service, poetry was attracting increasing writers, readers and hearers. Resident poets have been appointed in institutions like London Zoo and leading solicitors. Poetry festivals, workshops, and competitions are blossoming and flourishing.

One reason for this is that we seem to be born with a God-given appreciation of and appetite for poetry. This is further enhanced by the way adults communicate with babies – rhythmic repetition, word patterns, lullabies, nursery rhymes, etc.

Another factor is that people often turn to poetry to find comfort when faced with tragedy, and there has been no shortage of that in recent times. Following September 11th, 10,000 people turned up to a reading of modern poetry in New York. The following month, a course in powerful Shakespearean tragedies, dealing with evil and destruction, attracted three times the usual number of people. The tutor, Patsy Rosenberg explained: "You can go to great poetry, and not feel so lonely". The memorial walls around New York are covered with poems composed by grieving relatives, friends, and New York residents.

It is certainly encouraging to hear that recent tragedies have made people pause, think and write a bit more deeply about reality. It is also to be welcomed that some people may be trying to address pain in a thoughtful way, instead of plunging headlong into hedonistic pleasures. It is said that poems help to express and give shape to our pain, and so help us to face it, "come to terms with it", and find relief. If so, then good. However, even the best and most inspirational human words of even the most inspiring of poets cannot calm, comfort or soothe the deepest parts of the human soul.

Thankfully, God has provided His own ultimate pain relief in the book of Psalms. There we find poems for every occasion - suffering, mourning, crying for justice, going to war, seeking salvation, celebrating, learning, etc. This God-inspired and God-approved book of poems brings God near to the reader and singer. To paraphrase Patsy Rosenberg: "You can go to this greatest ever collection of poems and not feel so lonely". Read, remember, repeat and recite them. And, be relieved by them.

David P Murray (May 2002).