American poet Aisha Tariqa Abdul Haqq is releasing a poem from her book, ‘Acres of Shadow’ to raise awareness of mental illness and suicidal ideation. The poem observes her triumph over a battle with mental illness and suicidal thoughts triggered by her younger brother’s murder.
—
The release of the poem is meant to help those struggling with mental illness and suicidal ideation find comfort in a kindred spirit, feel understood, and find reasons to choose life. Aisha Tariqa Abdul Haqq strives to make contemporary poetry accessible to all audiences and is working to raise awareness for the soothing, therapeutic role art through poetry can play in helping those battling mental illness feel connected and less alone.
More information is available at https://bit.ly/AishaTariqaBooks
Aisha Tariqa Abdul Haqq is a poet who writes about universal struggles and life experiences to convey messages of unity, empathy, and compassion. With the recent release of a poem from her book ‘Acres of Shadow,’ Aisha Tariqa is shedding light on the despondency she suffered over her younger brother’s murder as a way of helping those battling depression find the courage to fight furiously for the light.
Studies reveal traumatic events, such as the loss of a loved one, can lead to the development of bipolar disorder, something Aisha Tariqa brings awareness to with her art. Aisha Tariqa acknowledges that every individual is different, yet every individual struggles.
Aisha Tariqa says writing ‘Acres of Shadow’ served as a cathartic experience that saved her again and again after her younger brother’s murder plunged her into a year-long battle with darkness and mania that was eventually diagnosed as Bipolar 1.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, reassuring those showing signs of mental illness through “I” statements and expressions of understanding helps open up important conversations, something Aisha Tariqa hopes to accomplish through her poetry.
In commemoration of how far she has come in her struggles with mental health, Aisha Tariqa Abdul Haqq shared a poem from her book Acres of Shadow’ seven years after she first wrote it:
“To those who wish to kill themselves:
I understand
Sometimes, I want to kill myself
The hard part is knowing that not only is birth painful, but so is death
Though we hardly get to choose either of those
The only thing we have control over is the amount of joy we allow into our lives
The pain we cannot stop
But the joy
The joy is our weapon against defeat
Defeat is both difficult and easy
So is life both difficult and easy
The art is in choosing one over the other each and every time
Because at least with living you get to choose to live more
With defeat you lose everything
Your family, your identity, the way you like to smile at light jokes in the current setting of the meeting of both the nature and nurture of your physical self
You do not get to take these things with you when you pass on
With these words, I hope you choose life”
Aisha Tariqa explains that she is sharing this poem to act as an anchor to those suffering from chronic mental illness, and feeling the urge to surrender. In her poem, she encourages readers to find the pursuits that bring them joy and take active steps toward healing.
Aisha Tariqa’s body of work echoes Aristotle’s theory about art that says the aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance. With the recent release of her poem from the book ‘Acres of Shadow’ American poet Aisha Tariqa Abdul Haqq unveils the significant role depression plays in masquerading the beauty in life.
Audiences are invited to follow Aisha Tariqa Abdul Haqq on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @AishaTariqa.
Visit https://www.aishatariqa.com/landing-page to learn more.
Contact Info:
Name: Aisha Abdul-Haqq
Email: Send Email
Organization: Aisha Tariqa Abdul Haqq Publishing LLC
Address: 55 Monument Circle 7th Floor, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204, United States
Website: https://www.aishatariqa.com/publishing-services
Release ID: 89073820
