Poetry in career planningOne page of our career review workbook asks for a poem entitled "my career" This strikes fear into some "but I haven't written a poem since school days" And enlivens and liberates others.... occasionally onto several pages! Either way - we want a bash at it. Why? Several reasons. Firstly it is the first page we turn to when processing the workbooks as part of the Career Review. This is because a poem often encapsulates the true issues facing the person right now. Secondly - there is at times a cathartic element to writing a poem on that topic - and it forms part of moving from denial of a career problem or dissappointment to a point of acknowledgement Finally - if there are unfulfilled dreams and aspirations - this may be the only place in the workbook where these can clearly flow - not invariably but sometimes it is the only window into uncharted territory. We have had some totally amazing poems back over the 25 years we have been offering career support. Some made us laugh - others made us cry ( literally occasionally - such was the beauty and poignancy captured or past personal career memories jogged) We don't look for literary or poetic genius - any old poem will do - whatever splurges out is great. Doggeral, prose, sonnets, Keats-esque, limeric, haiku - it is all fine. The quality is irrelevant - it is what lies beneath and that which is revealed which is important. Below is a sample of some that we have felt were particularly deep or hitting a nail on the head somehow. They are kept anonymous unless the poet wanted to be mentioned. There are some interesting "before" and "after" career guidance poems too.
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