Abstract

From sensation to expression: metaphors, synaesthesia and oxymora in the “now moments” of poetry and clinical sessions. “Now moments” according to Daniel Stern are special and critical moments that happen within a psychotherapy session or, more in general, within a significant relationship: empathy and strong bonds are part of those moments as well as unpredictable and unavoidable outcomes. Interpersonal love relationships are made of such contrasting elements that imply surprise effects but also the growing of mutual and reassuring links. The aim of this paper is to show how also in the poetry structures “now moments” play an important role. Rhetorical figures such metaphors, synesthesia and oxymora go beyond the words in search of a significant interpersonal or intrapersonal contact that is a process con- cerning somehow expression and regulation of emotions. In so far as most of the rhe- torical figures come from pre-linguistic realms (such as sensation and perception) some forms of those figures may be present in nonverbal languages as music and may be successfully used in many art therapy models and methods.