Making Peace in Practice and Poetry

Joy Mead presents five practical workshops, for groups or individuals, to explore the use of words and poetry in everyday life.

Unique among the species, humans create their world through language and imagination. In this we have the potential to be aggressive, violent and oppressive, or gentle, creative and vulnerable. Words express and shape what we are or might become. We are all poets when we attempt to express the essence of our own experiences. As we tell and listen, we develop our sense of community and our humanity. Because the personal is also political, this process creates peace between people, in society, and among nations.

The readings and activities in this book aim to lead us to a deeper understanding of how we use language. As we become more discriminating in our use of words, so we can better tell our own stories and relate to the experiences of others.


Joy Mead is a member of the Iona Community. She works freelance as a poet, writer and editor and leads small creative writing groups. For many years she has been involved in development education and justice and peace work. She is the author of Compassion in the Market Place, The One Loaf and A Telling Place, all published by Wild Goose Publications. Her poems have been included in many magazines and anthologies.

Reader reviews

I feel motivated and excited to write, using the support of this book. I have wanted to write for some time and have never known how or where to start. This is evidently a meaningful springboard and opportunity to explore personal faith and spirituality, a chance to grow and know more of how God "Is" in our lives. The words are moving, the images challenging, a beautiful book and hopefully a great experience.
Jayne Adams