Poetry for Parkinson’s

Expressing, Connecting, and Increasing Wellbeing

Life with Parkinson’s is full of twists and turns. Poetry is a tool you can use to make sense of changes and challenges. A poem can provide emotional release and relief. If you are experiencing voice issues or freezing, reading poems out loud is also a good way to practice amplifying your voice, your movement, and your perspective.

How Poetry Can Help People with Parkinson’s

Emotional Release

Reduce stress and build confidence.

Amplifying Your Unique Voice

Practice reciting poems – strengthen your voice and share your perspectives.

Creating Connections

Poetry fosters empathy and understanding, both within oneself and with others.

For those dealing with isolation or loneliness, poetry is a great connector. Through poetry we can let others know how we feel and we can empathise with others. We can also feel more connected to ourselves.

During the Placing Unheard Voices study, we identified communication and connection as key issues shaping quality of life for people with Parkinson’s. Our participants told us they wanted to communicate personal experiences of illness in a way that others could truly understand. But this was challenging without guidance and opportunities to practice communication skills.

To support people with Parkinson’s to improve and maintain communication and connection, we have developed a series of guided writing exercises called ‘Writing Through Illness.’ These exercises are based on reflective writing strategies Tara designed during the research to manage emotions related to studying her own illness.

Submit your poetry

If you’re already a practicing poet, we’d love to feature your work right here on the Placing Unheard Voices website. Submit up to five poems and a short bio to be one of our featured poets.