The New York Culture: Poetry as a refuge in times of storm

How verses help us find hope, strength, and love in the most challenging days

In a world of uncertainties, poetry is a beacon. Whether in the verses of Quintana or the words of Christ, poems teach us to see beauty even in the darkest days. Discover how poetry can transform your life.

Poetry, at its core, is an embrace in the form of words. When days feel heavy, when the soul carries the weight of uncertainties, verses emerge as a balm, capable of soothing the heart and rekindling hope. Since time immemorial, humanity has turned to poetry to express the inexpressible, to give shape to feelings that escape logic. As the educator Anísio Teixeira once said, “education is a process of making man more human,” and poetry, in this sense, is a powerful tool for humanizing, for connecting us with what is deepest within us. Recent studies from Harvard University, published in the Journal of Consciousness Studies (2023), show that reading poetry stimulates brain areas associated with empathy and emotional regulation, helping us process pain and find meaning amid chaos.

Motivational Quote: “Man is nothing but what education makes of him.” – Anísio Teixeira

The history of poetry is also the history of human resilience. In the darkest moments of history, poets like Anna Akhmatova, during the Stalinist regime, used their verses to preserve dignity and hope. Akhmatova wrote in secret, under the risk of imprisonment, transforming the pain of her people into poetry that transcended generations. In Brazil, poets like Carlos Drummond de Andrade captured the soul of a nation in transformation, with verses that spoke of struggle, love, and resilience. Poetry, therefore, is not merely a cultural ornament but a vital force that helps us endure hard days. It is a reminder that, even in the darkest nights, there are stars shining.

Inspiring Story: During World War II, prisoners in concentration camps wrote poems on scraps of paper, hiding them in their clothes. These verses, often discovered years later, revealed the strength of the human spirit, which found in poetry a way to resist dehumanization.

Poetry also plays a central role in love, a universal theme that permeates both science and spirituality. Studies from the University of Oxford (2024) suggest that reading romantic poetry increases the release of oxytocin, the “love hormone,” promoting feelings of connection and well-being. In the Christian context, love is the heart of Jesus Christ’s message, who preached compassion and service to others as paths to fulfillment. In John 13:34, Jesus teaches: “Love one another as I have loved you.” This love, which transcends the romantic and embraces the fraternal, finds an echo in poetry, which celebrates the beauty of human relationships. The poet Antônio Carlos dos Santos, in his work On Flowers and Loves – Poems, captures this essence when he writes: “By serving one another, we kiss the soul and become worthy of God’s grace.”

Curiosity Box: Did you know? Poetry can reduce stress! A study from the University of California (2022) showed that reading poems for just 10 minutes a day lowers cortisol levels, the stress hormone, by up to 20%.

Antônio Carlos dos Santos, a playwright, novelist, and poet, is a living example of how poetry can be an instrument of healing and transformation. His vast literary output, marked by profound sensitivity, reflects the belief that poetry is more than words—it is an act of resistance and redemption. In his poem “Venezuela,” he writes: “There is no darkness—however great—that does not yield to the clarity, the radiance, and the splendor of the sun.” These verses are an invitation to hope, a reminder that even the most difficult days are fleeting. With his MAT (Mindset, Action, and Theater) methodology, Santos proposes that poetry, combined with theater, can transform the way we think and act, fostering a mindset of resilience and creativity.

Practical Tip: Set aside 5 minutes a day to read a poem. Choose something that resonates with your current moment—be it a verse of hope, love, or reflection. Write down a line that touches you in a notebook and reflect on it throughout the day.

In addition to MAT, Antônio Carlos developed the Theater Movement (ThM), an approach that uses theater as a tool for emotional and social expression. Through theatrical dynamics, he teaches that poetry can be lived, not just read. His Mané Beiçudo Puppet Theater (MBPT) methodology takes this idea further, using puppets to tell poetic stories that connect children and adults to their emotions. These approaches show that poetry is not elitist—it belongs to everyone. As Maria Montessori said, “education is an aid to life,” and Santos’ methodologies transform poetry into a practical tool for facing challenges and building bridges between people.

Inspiring Story: Malala Yousafzai, the young Pakistani who survived a Taliban attack, found in poetry a way to express her fight for education. In her speeches, she often quotes poets like Rumi, using verses to inspire millions to strive for a fairer world.

Poetry also teaches us to look inward. As psychologist Carl Rogers said, “what is most personal is most universal.” When we read a poem that speaks of pain, love, or hope, we connect with the collective experience of humanity. A study from Stanford University (2023) revealed that poetry activates the prefrontal cortex, helping to integrate emotions and thoughts, which is essential for psychological resilience. In the Christian context, the apostles also used poetic forms to convey messages of love and redemption. The Psalms, for example, are poems that express everything from anguish to exaltation, showing that spirituality and poetry go hand in hand.

Motivational Quote: “True education consists in bringing to light what is hidden in the soul.” – Maria Montessori

The work of Antônio Carlos dos Santos, especially On Flowers and Loves – Poems, is a testament to the transformative power of poetry. Inspired by Mario Quintana, Santos believes that “only poetry possesses living things.” His poems are like flowers blooming in barren soil, bringing beauty where there was only hardship. In “Deserving God,” he reminds us that love and service to others are paths to spiritual fulfillment. This vision aligns with the message of Desmond Tutu, who said: “Do good, however small, because it is in small acts that love is manifested.”

Curiosity Box: Did you know? Writing poetry can improve mental health! A study published in the Journal of Poetry Therapy (2024) showed that people who write poems regularly report greater emotional clarity and reduced anxiety symptoms.

On hard days, poetry invites us to pause, breathe, and find meaning. It reminds us that beauty exists, even in the cracks of life. As Nelson Mandela said, “It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.” Poetry is that light, a guide that helps us navigate storms. Whether through the verses of Antônio Carlos dos Santos, the words of Christ, or the methodologies that blend art and education, poetry teaches us that difficult days are just part of the journey—and that, with love and creativity, we can transform them into moments of growth.

Practical Tip: Create a “poetry notebook” for tough days. Write down your own verses or those of other poets that inspire you. When the weight of the day feels heavy, open the notebook and let the words guide you back to hope.

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