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In Praise of Yelling

Sometimes it's good to give yourself up in an heartfelt yell - to find a place out of earshot of others, a beach will do, or better, a shoreline with rocks and crashing waves, or out bush where there is nothing but wide open spaces - and then take a deep breath to fuel your loudest yell. At first it will feel strange to hear your own voice rise unrestrained in air, savage, primal, a sound coming from the deepest pit of your ancestral soul. Keep yelling until you feel the need subside and a calm comes upon you. You will leave satisfied, still without answers and weighted with all the problems that you carried before. There will be no sudden enlightenment or beatific vision, just a soulful peace purged of all anger, only yourself, stripped of pretense and once more a reconciled and humble child of earth.

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Sara Etgen-Baker

Date: 5/3/2024 3:41:00 PM

I'm not normally a shouter, but on those times when I have released pent up anger I didn't solve anything except getting rid of pent up negative energy. Sometimes, I have to admit, yelling clears my mind and seems necessary??? Wisdom flows beneath the surface of your words. have a pleasant evening, Sara

Paul Willason
Date: 5/4/2024 5:54:00 AM

Thanks Sara....yep, there's a few things working in the background here, the need to access the raw part of our nature and give it a voice, to be fully aware of alive etc. Once again dear Sara, indebted to your generous spirit.

Di11y Da11y

Date: 5/3/2024 10:52:00 AM

I've pondered this a while after reading it this afternoon. I think this expelling of the overwhelm does have it's place and I can think of an occasion where I've done this, although unplanned. The privacy of the motorway drive. The better approach is top of the lungs singing though, if you can catch the state of stress early enough x

Paul Willason
Date: 5/4/2024 5:45:00 AM

Good comments DD...my singing always degenerates into a yell so there's not much difference. All a matter of letting go. Pleased to hear from you my dear friend.

John Lawless

Date: 5/3/2024 6:10:00 AM

Ah, the PRIMAL SCREAM......I call it chanting and wonder what the neighbors think

Paul Willason
Date: 5/4/2024 5:41:00 AM

I wonder about the neighbours but hope they have their hearing aids turned off. Thanks John for getting in earshot of tfe poem....very much appreciated my friend.

Lin Lane

Date: 5/3/2024 5:12:00 AM

I don't think I've ever reached the point where I wanted to give a blood curdling scream about anything. Not sure if that's a good thing or not. I'm more of a "seether" who huffs and puffs, trying to blow down the person or problem that causes me angst. Maybe because I've never lived in an open enough space not to be heard. I write my screams in poetic verse. Your poetry always gives me food for thought, Paul.

Paul Willason
Date: 5/4/2024 5:33:00 AM

Would stop short of a scream...a yell is less threatening. Probably more of a need to access the undiluted which has the potential to become harmful. Many thanks dear Lin, as always a treasured guest in the little world of my poetry...providing thoughtful commentary.