Poetry helps to release my tensions and frustrations

“Poetry helps to release my tensions and frustrations"

The 69-year-old, who lives in Lancashire, has Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH) and takes daily oxygen. A widow, she works part-time at the Haworth Art Gallery in Accrington as a Wedding, Events and Gallery Assistant – and it is this job which inspired her to put pen to paper.

Margaret said: “When the pandemic arrived the gallery had to close so I began shielding and working from home doing research into our oil painting collection. We began to meet on Zoom every week and it was decided to have a weekly challenge. Some of my colleagues are artists but not all, so it was interesting to see everyone’s interpretations.

This is how I began to write the poetry. The challenge for one I call ‘Warts and All’ was to produce something relating to how the lockdown was affecting us all during the lockdown. I wrote it when I was feeling at a very low ebb and reading it can sometimes still bring me to tears.”

Putting pen to paper, Margaret said, has helped her to manage her emotions during these difficult times.

She added: “I did enjoy the process of writing poetry overall and I think that it helped to release my tensions and frustrations of not being able to see anyone face to face. It came as quite a surprise to find that I could put my thoughts and feelings into verse as I had never done this before.

My advice to anyone wishing to write their own poetry is to think of how the subject makes you feel. Write down all the things that you think of and then arrange them to make sense. Don’t be afraid to give it a go as you could be surprised.”

You can read one of

Margaret’s poems, inspired by the pandemic, below. 'Hope'

Hope is the sunrise at the start of the day Hope is the butterfly heading my way. Hope is the birdsong so happy and strong Hope is the feeling you get from their song. Hope is the rainbow its bright colours shine We all need to hope, soon things will be fine.