How I Healed My Broken Heart
How I Healed My Broken Heart
How does one heart heal?
To whom does one turn to?
The cardiologist said there was nothing broken,
But I knew that wasn't true.
For I could feel the crack every day;
Every moment that I was awake;
And even my sleep kept careful guard
Watching over this precious break.
I asked the priest for a blessing,
He offered a pitiful prayer.
I sat in church and talked with God,
My heart exposed and bare.
I went to see a healer.
She touched my body and said,
"There's nothing wrong with your Chakras…
It must be in your head."
I met a fine psychiatrist
And lay down on his couch;
I argued it wasn't my childhood-
That much I can vouch.
I joined up with a Shaman;
We danced all through the night.
But, even his strong medicine
Couldn't make it right.
I sat alone in the quiet
Wanting only a moments rest;
A movement soft as angel's wings
Fluttered in my chest.
A blanket of peace enveloped me
As tears came to my eyes.
"So, this is how a heart heals," I thought,
"I didn't realize."
Original poem by Denise Handlon All rights reserved. No portion of this poem may be used without the written permission of the author.
The Making of the Poem:
The heartache began first, but the question soon followed. Staying with the experience, as I have been taught to do on my spiritual path, it felt like a gaping hole, dark and cold. As the mind recoiled I became curious as to how long it would take to heal a broken heart and what the process was.
The creativity stream occurred next and I allowed the question, 'how does a heart heal' to simmer on the back burner of my mind, occasionally playing with rhyme. One of the areas of playfulness that I noticed, and immediately engaged in, was the many types of healers and what their modus operandi would be. It became a delightful encounter to imagine what a particular healer would offer and my response to it.
In the end it is obvious that the answers, as well as the work, lie within our own selves. It is part of my spiritual practice to be present to the experience no matter what it is; to see it to its conclusion. More often than not, as was in this case, the end result is filled with love.
This poem was started in March, 2011. It began as awareness of an experience within the body and formulated itself into a question. The question evolved into a poem. Although the topic is serious and could be twisted into something dark and dismal, there is a lightheartedness that prevailed here. The stanzas were a work in progress for several months-writing, resting, working, pausing, and then resuming the process. When the final word was written I allowed it to have some space before I picked it up once more to review it. In the end, I was satisfied with the final results in August 2011.
Comments
Loved your poem. I found your hub useful as well, due to the way you were able to put spacing between the important parts of the work. Voted up.
Denise...
This was a beautiful look at something we all have to go through on occasion. As I was reading it I liked how you went to each practitioner in search of succor. As such...I was thrilled when you wrote about your creative process and mentioned it!
Great Job!
Thomas
very nicely done! I agree, it all boils down to what's inside. We know (may not know that we know) what will calm and heal our hearts.
Its beautiful. I loved your point of view and your composition.
Well there you go.... If you give it away, it is irrelevant who else you ask.. You must always go back to that place, that time and to that person to whom you gave it AND Demand theirs instead! Nice work. You would be surprised at how easy heart-napping is :D
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Hound Cat-nice to meet you. Thanks for reading and commenting (and the vote up! :) ) I read some of your work just now. Sweet.
Thomas-I'm glad you enjoyed that part of the process as well. It was a delightful healing process as it began to unfold! Thanks for your observations and feedback.
Hi Swiftfamily-yes, it always comes down to this, doesn't it...
Hello Vinaya- I appreciate your comments. Thanks for stopping by.
Hello P.D.- Thanks for your feedback. Yes-you are absolutely right-and there you have it! LOL
Search for the healing of a broken heart. Although it was with you all along, perhaps it took time to be open and find the answer.
My heart had been broken three times so far and each wound had been healed by time and a different mind set. Going out with jolly good friends and learning new hobbies are included in the remedies. Thank you for sharing a wonderful poem. :)
Denise,
This was a beautiful hub filled with inspiration as to how we all might find healing. Thank you for sharing. Healing is a journey and one that takes time. You are so right in the end we find we fill that gaping hole with love. Thank you.
Sunnie
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Homesteadbound-the answer is always with each of us-I've known that from experience for a very long time. This poem came from one of my meditation experiences during my spiritual retreat. Thank you so much for reading and commenting. :) I appreciate it.
Queen Cleopatra-if we were in the same area we could do that together, couldn't we. :) Nice to meet you.
Sunnie Day-thank you for reading and commenting on it being inspirational, as that is the category I had listed it under. Cheers.
I enjoyed reading this. You're right, it's the quiet that heals--the moment when your own heart takes stock of the situation and come to terms with it (or as you said it..peace). Nicely done and rated up.
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Thank you anglnwu for reading and offering your feedback. :)
I love your poem Denise. You are absolutely right, healing takes place within us. This I too have found out. Beautiful!
Denise, Those words are beautiful! I am so glad your heart has healed. :) Rated up! :)
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Hi Michelle-thank you for reading and commenting. Nice to see you!
Hi AE- Thanks! I appreciate your reading and commenting. It was a fun process to observe and write about. :)
Beautiful poem Denise. I like the different ways the heart sought to be "healed", and the process involved.
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Thanks Dorsi-it was quite a delightful 'game' to explore those ways and then find the right words that rhymed and did not sound out of place. :)
interesting and of course beautiful poem. How does heart heal? In the end, nobody can answer your question but yourself. ^^ Have a nice day there!
this is so beautiful Denise _ I could feel your pain in every work - voted up awesome and beautiful.
Awesome Denise! I like the wit in it as well.
And so true that finally all the healing and answers we need are nowhere but within ourselves.
Beautiful and lighthearted approach in your poetry about healing a broken heart. I enjoyed the poem and your rendition about how it was created over time. Voted up!
Simply beautiful and so very true. Healing is a journey and the sooner we can open ourselves to sitting quietly without panic or resistence, simply being with and acknowledging the empty ache in our hearts, the sooner we will heal.
I loved the poem and also the story behind it.
Good luck in the contest. This was a wonderful submission.
Loved the poem, the flow and the way it leads to healing - love your description of your personal journey too!
Beautiful poem. I liked seeing the process you went through to write this piece.
Denise: Your journey in this lovely, clear poem felt so real and immediate for me as I read it, and yet I was amazed to read that it was written in stages for it flows with completion and unity. I appreciate that this poem is not a summary after the fact but instead a living narration. Beautiful process! Voted up, beautiful, awesome
This is a lovely poem and offers hope to the broken-hearted in search of healing. I so enjoyed your poem!
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Greetings Freya-thank you for reading and commenting
Hi Annie-thanks for reading and your votes. :)
Chaya-thank you for acknowledging the wit! LOL
Thanks Peggy-I enjoyed the development of this poem.
Hi Gail-thanks so much for your thoughtful comments.
Thanks Simey-for your feedback and reading.
Hi Susan-thanks-loved your contribution as well.
Stessily-thank you for your thoughtful feedback. I appreciate it.
Hi Stephanie-thanks for reading. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)
Good poem, which I love. voted you up and beautiful
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Thanks Writer20-I appreciate it.
Such wisdom in your poetry. The healing is always within ourselves and God's kindness toward us. Your poem inspired me Denise..Thank you..
Hi Denise! What a beautiful poem. Thanks for sharing your journey into the healing of a broken heart. I hope that many will read it and be comforted by your experience, thoughtfulness and creativity.
wow...i love this poem and i can relate to this one...when people we ask for help can't help we always go back to the source and that is oneself...
beautiful!
Beautiful poem Denise! I could try to go there.You say you were satisfied about the poem in August 2011;my heart broke in August as my husband took his last breath.I will try to be quiet and listen.Maybe something will speak to me.
Thanks for sharing.It helps.
voted you beautiful.
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Ruby-that means a lot to me coming from such a wonderful poet as yourself. Thank you.
Dexter-you are a sweet soul. Thank you for your kind comments.
Yes raciniwa-the Source is where it is-the healing, compassion and love. Thanks for your comments. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Little Kim-thank you for reading and commenting. :)
oh my goodness, baygirl-my most sincere condolences to you in your grief. Listen, this is different from any 'ordinary' broken heart--this is just plain grief. So, don't do anything except GRIEVE and follow what your body and mind is guiding you to do. I have some hubs on grief about the loss of my own husband in Oct of '05 which you are welcome to visit, but I will email you a message also. A big, warm hug sent out to you this evening and know you aren't alone! ((((((hug)))))
I liked the perspective you offer in this poem. It's true that pain is invisible to those who haven't known it, and if the pain is in the heart or soul, medicine is useless.
I am sure many will find comfort in your words Denise, healing is a journey and your poem gives hope.
voting up and beautiful, thank you for sharing, best wishes MM
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WannaB Writer-Thanks for reading and offering your feedback.
Movie Master-glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the votes. :)
What an amazing poetry and ideas. It is so beautiful, I can relate to it also. :)
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Thanks Charu, it was a fun process. :)
Excellent job. I appreciate you sharing your process to get to the end result of you poem. It is something that I often tell my students, you don't come up with a polished piece in 5 minutes.
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Good advice, teacher! Thanks for taking the time to read and comment cara-I know you are BUSY...which is an understatement. Love you.
Denise,
This has been the story of my life a few times over. Wonder if we were visiting the same people in hopes of finding relief? If they aren't the same folks, maybe they all attended the same school, because they definitely talk alike. (wink)
Voted up, all the way!
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FF-that's funny. Yep, I think there are all sorts of folks waiting to console a broken heart...but, it's an inside job. Thanks for the votes. I had fun writing this one.
Great Poem. Absolute quiet, listening to nothing but your own heart beating, in the company of your own thoughts is pure luxury and a wonderful healer. Voted up
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Hi inthenickoftime77-thanks for reading and commenting on this poem. Yes, the Quiet Peace to assauge the broken heart. Many Blessings to you, my friend.
Yes, that is why for me, a healed spirit is the key to true peace and happiness. I have seen the light of Christ as it continues to heal my soul as in him is my strength through his words of love, forgiveness ... that in faith, I see hope as I trust in him ... surrendering all my material inequities and all malice from my heart ... surrendering my 'self,' and become one with him in truth, love for others, and forgiveness.
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Thank you Edwinoel Tanglao for reading and commenting. Joy to you...
Denise.....So nice to meet you and visit your site. I do not believe in coincidence.
There is a purposeful and genuine reason I was led to this sweet and touching poem. Thank you for sharing this spiritually healing message where I could find it.....UP A&B...tweeted/pinned
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Dear fpherj48 I'm so happy to learn that this poem was inspirational to you at just the right moment. I do not believe in coincidence's either, but enjoy the synchronicity of life, which Jung revealed in much of his work.
Thank you for stopping by. :) Enjoy your healing process.
Voted beautiful:) Touching and very well written!
Wow! An incredible poem with such emotions direct to the warmth of ones heart.
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Hello Kerlund74 Thank you for your comments, I appreciate them. :)
Hi DDE - I'm glad you enjoyed this poem.
It's funny that this poem started so serious and then as it evolved it just picked up a light humor along the way. :)
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