The purpose of poetry is to remind us how difficult it is to remain just one person, for our house is open, there are no keys in the doors, and invisible guests come in and out at will (Milosz,1988).
Poetry is a unique art form in which the expression of feelings and ideas are given intensity through particular uses of language. It has a long history across centuries and cultures in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe.
Poetry in particular has the advantage of covering any and every subject one can think of, literally and figuratively. Nothing is out of bounds for it (Brady, 2009).
Research poetry involves multiple approaches of using poetry by different disciplines. These include participant and researcher-voiced poetic processes that can be used as tools of inquiry and as distinctive ways of reporting research. Although mainly qualitative, research poetry can be approached quantitatively and with mixed-methods. At its core, however, is the use of poetry as an arts-based methodology to deepen and expand our understanding of what it means to be human with all its messiness, relationships, emotions, inconsistencies and passions.
This special issue welcomes international submissions from different disciplines following the aims and scope of the journal for the publication of research, policy and best practice within the interdisciplinary field of arts and health. Guidance for authors can be found here: https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/rahe20
