You'll Never Walk Alone: Poems for life's ups and downs

Description

Words can be a way to unlock our feelings. Poetry allows us to be in touch with our emotions and helps us unlock and explore our vulnerability. You'll Never Walk Alone is a collection of the kind of inspirational texts - mainly poems - that can accompany us, whatever we are feeling, from sorrow to delight. The texts are not just about words which can console us or comfort us - though they often do this too. Rather these are poems that allow us to enjoy a full range of emotions. The poems are organised according to the season in which they 'belong': we all have seasons of our minds, be they wintery and dark, or more spring-like and hopeful. Comprising 52 poems, with analysis by Rachel, You'll Never Walk Alone introduces a poem for each week of the year plus tips on bringing poetry into your life. This book will show you how to bring poetry into your everyday emotional reality, where it can be a new tool for wellbeing. And one that means you'll never walk alone. 'Like Rachel Kelly, I passionately believe in the power of poetry to reach the soul. In times of heartache and joy, this wonderful anthology will help and delight all through the year. Kelly's brilliant introduction and explanations of each choice make this an indispensable companion, always.' - Bel Mooney, writer, journalist and broadcaster 'Rachel's wonderful book offers a carefully curated and wisely annotated selection of poems designed to offer support and solace during the more heart-stopping, heartbreaking, exhilarating, joyful, and unpredictable times of our life.' -MindHealth 360 'Healing words for quiet evenings.' - Culture Whisper

Rachel Kelly is a keynote speaker, bestselling writer and mental health campaigner. She shares her experience of depression and evidence-based strategies that helped her recover. Rachel has spoken all over the world from Delhi to Sydney, America and across the UK. Her four critically acclaimed books are published in over 10 countries. Rachel is also a well-known media commentator and former Times journalist as well as an official ambassador for mental health charities Rethink Mental Illness, SANE, The Counselling Foundation and Head Talks. Her long-standing passion for poetry led to her becoming the co-founder of the iF poetry app (2011) and co-editorof iF: A Treasury of Poetry for Almost Every Possibility (Canongate, 2012). She is the author of Black Rainbow, The Happy Kitchen, Walking on Sunshine and Singing in the Rain. Rachel lives in London with her husband, Sebastian, and their five children.

Kelly's brilliant introduction and explanations of each choice make this an indispensable companion. -- Bel Mooney Sweet and soulful -- Metro Healing words for quiet evenings -- Culture Whisper This beautiful book aims to bring poetry into your everyday life. -- RED A lovely collection of inspirational poetry, designed to help you through every occasion, on good days and bad... insightful. -- HELLO A lovely book and a perfect companion for the dark days of winter. -- Beauty Bible Gentle, nurturing and thought-provoking. -- HappinessHub Uplifting poetry. A perfect present for Christmas. -- Daily Mail Divided into four seasons and emotions, Kelly sidesteps any predictably mellow fruitfulness and picks a writer's lesser-known work. There are some classics but plenty of the contemporary and translated works will be new to many. Each entry is accompanied by a pithy analysis and there's a useful biography of each poet at the back. -- Country Life Magazine In seeking solace and support, poetry is a wonderful balm, as words unlock our feelings. -- Church Times Offers companionship during our darker, but also our happy times, on the emotional rollercoaster that is life. She points out that we find comfort in the knowledge that we are not alone with our feelings, and poetry can give us a strong sense of our common humanity. She also points out that neurological research shows that poetry speaks to a part of our brains that is more primitive, maybe because poetry has a long oral tradition, therefore eliciting a more visceral reaction, which tends to be more healing to traumatic emotions. -- MindHealth360 One of the 2022 books of the year -- The Tablet Poetry can be like a salve to the soul if you find just the right one to read in the right set of circumstances. This inspirational and soothing collection, organised according to the season, not only provides great comfort but acts as a friend, too, when there are times to celebrate. As the title suggests, you'll never walk alone when you have this trusty companion by your bedside. -- My Weekly A poetry book can be a gift of healing, and Rachel Kelly's anthology You'll Never Walk Alone: Poems For Life's Ups And Downs is the perfect present. A true evangelist for poetry as an aid to wellbeing, the mental health campaigner begins, 'Words can be a way to make sense of our feelings', and divides her choices into the four seasons, representing moods of sadness, hope, joy and reflection. The range is engaging, offering old favourites such as Keats and Derek Walcott as well as songs and new writers. Kelly follows each poem with a beautifully concise explanation which will be welcomed by anyone unaccustomed to reading poetry - and bring fresh delight to those who encounter familiar poems anew. The whole book is an essential companion. -- Bel Mooney * Daily Mail *