Creativity Saves Lives – Art Heals

It is April here… I mean May. What I mean is, this is April writing the blog this week. And my favorite month of April is over. So that means it is May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month. Did you know that mental health has been observed in this month since 1949? Here at VSA Texas we want to stress the importance of art and creativity to mental health. We work with many artists in the community who use their artistic expression to relieve the pain of mental illness and to release thoughts and feelings that could be detrimental to their health if kept inside. We encourage everyone, whether you are diagnosed with a mental health disorder or not, to express yourself through art. Because as artist SylviAnn Murray says, “Creativity Saves Lives – Art Heals.” Here is one of her poems:

the M A N I C rainbow

First time I flew

The M A N I C rainbow

I told the world every thing

I knew I could BE

and thought I already WAS

though no one could see

Declared me “CRAZY”

for believing in my self

t o o    m u c h

Tied me down

left me ALONE

to  d e s p a I r

Convicted me of a  “crime”

Called  IN SANITY

They said

“There is NO  RETURN”

Here is SylviAnn with her book of poetry
currently for sale online and at local bookstores.

Poet Bryan Rowland says, “I write poetry to express myself when I am depressed or emotionally drained. This poem was written at a very dark time in my life, when I was going through a med change. It tells of being rejected because of my illness. But it also provides hope and acceptance.”

LIGHT

IN TO THIS WORLD WE ARE BORN

THRU BLOOD PAIN AND SIN

THIS IS HOW LIFE BEGINS           

LIFE IS SHORT AND DEATH IS SWEET

BUT IT’S FOR THE LIGHT WE REACH

IT IS WHEN WE ARE A CHILD

THAT WE LEARN TO

LIE STEAL AND CHEAT

LIFE IS SHORT AND DEATH IS SWEET

BUT IT’S FOR THE LIGHT WE REACH

FROM THE HEART THESE THINGS SEEP

HATE WAR AND MURDER

USING DRUGS AND BOOZE

CHASEING A HIGH TO GET BY

LIFE IS SHORT AND DEATH IS SWEET

BUT IT’S FOR THE LIGHT WE REACH

ON THIS PAINFUL RIDE WE CALL LIFE

LOVE FAITH AND HOPE

WE MUST KEEP THESE IN SIGHT

AS WE REACH OUT FOR THE LIGHT

LIFE IS SHORT AND DEATH IS SWEET

BUT IT’S FOR THE LIGHT WE REACH

You can hear from Bryan and SylviAnn at our monthly The Lion and the Pirate Unplugged Open Mic held at Malvern Books. Maybe you will be inspired to bring your own poem to share with us! Or just post it here in the comments section of our blog.