Listen to this post with poetry read by Louise Mathewson:
Here’s another wonderful offering from poet and author Louise Mathewson. You first met her on this blog in a post from August 8, 2013 about her memoir, “A Life Interrupted.” Now she’s back. And this time you get to hear her read her poetry. Click on the play button at the top of this post to hear the entire post read aloud.
Blessings For Survivors of Brain Injuries
Blessings for offering another version of life,
not Hollywood’s.
Blessings for undertaking rough terrain
with few signposts warning of danger.
Blessings as you travel a jungle of primal emotions
and remain in love with life.
Blessings for teaching others how to accept help for even the most basic things,
like walking, finding a word or planning a day.
Blessings for looking people in the eye and holding your head high,
in spite of your shattered confidence.
Blessings for picking up the pieces of your old self
and showing how to create a new life.
Blessings for offering a map
for others to use to explore their own inner landscape.
Blessings for receiving help from family and friends
so they can experience the gift of giving.
Blessings on you for learning a new dance
and singing a new song.
Blessings!
This poem appeared on Louise’s blog on www.LouiseMathewson.com on March 21st for National Brain Injury Awareness Month. If you’ve kept up with my politics, you well know that I wish it was called National People with Brain Injury Acceptance and Appreciation Month. And here’s Louise, totally embodying that idea too. We have much to offer and to share. Louise never belittles how hard the experiences can be because she knows first hand. She wants us to also remember that the person with brain injury isn’t stuck never again having anything to offer themselves or others. We are valued and valuable people, as it should be. Just sometimes we have to remind ourselves and others of that. Hence this poem.
Please visit Louise’s site and check out her work. As the site says, “Faced with the biggest challenge of her life, Louise has subsequently used poetry to process her grief and recover – both physically and emotionally. Through her website, she shares samples of her work and resources in hopes it will bring strength and hope to other TBI sufferers and their loved ones.”
3 responses to “Guest Blogger Poet Louise Mathewson and Blessings for Those with Brain Injuries”
I have had TBI for 8 years. I was a Special Education Teacher in a local high school. Due to the injury and side effects, I was told that I could never teach again. I loved teaching children with learning difficulties. I experienced 2 years of suicidal depression. With the support from my wife and caregiver and Wings Support group, have been able the to discover a new life. I have worked through the pain and embarrassment of Brain Injury and am a volunteer for Brain Injury Voices. This group talk and guide people with Brain Injury, their families, professionals who deal with Brain Injuries, and any group who want to know more about Brain Injury. I am teaching again.
I loved your poem. It is very inspiring and enlightening with the truths that we live with today. Thank you
Thank you so much for your comment and sharing your story here! I’m familiar with Brain Injury Voices. So glad to hear you’re involved with them! I have an older post on this blog about Brain Injury Voices and some of Hilary’s artwork!
I will be sure to pass this comment along to Louise, the woman with TBI who wrote this poem. It’s so wonderful that you found it inspiring and enlightening. I did too. That’s why I wanted to share it here!
Theodore,
Thanks so much for sharing your story! I am thrilled to hear you have been able to discover a new life! It took me 3-4 years of writing to get through the deep depression, grief and sadness too. I still have ups and downs, but not the wild swings. I plan to explore the Wings you mention – I had never heard of it before. I’m not sure if it is local or in other states.
Many thanks for your support of my work and for your advocacy for those with brain injury!!
Blessings! Louise