There’s something deeply therapeutic about translating emotions into poetry—whether you’re tapping away at a keyboard or using a stylus on a tablet. Poetry has a way of grounding us, providing clarity, and making sense of life’s ups and downs. It’s not just a creative act; it’s a personal journey toward healing and self-discovery.
When I write my poems, they come to me on instinct. They’re triggered by strong emotions—joy, sorrow, anger, or anything in between—and I write them down raw, rarely editing them. I don’t follow any specific poetic classifications, like haiku, sonnets, or free verse; instead, the words seem to pour out in just the right way. Poetry flows from me as naturally as I feel the emotions themselves.
As a teenager, my poetry was often dark, even when it didn’t appear that way on the surface. Writing became my refuge during a time when I desperately needed one. It was a way to express thoughts and feelings I couldn’t say aloud—a place to hide what I needed to protect. My poems were hidden from prying eyes, particularly my father’s, who would search for my journal to read its contents and punish me. They were never a silent cry for help. They were always an outlet for me.
Each stroke of the pen back then felt as freeing as the physical release of self-harm. Poetry offered me the same catharsis—every sentence a slash into the overwhelming pain, slowly bringing it down to a level I could handle. Thankfully, this emotional outlet made self-harm a rare occurrence.
Even now, poetry remains most present during my darker moments, though every so often I write something light and hopeful. Over time, I’ve developed a signature style: disguising my meaning, layering my true emotions behind metaphors and symbols. Sometimes I will write exactly what I mean just to throw people though. My poems are raw, unmasked versions of myself—if you know how to look. Writing is my way of screaming into the field, releasing my frustration, anger, sadness—whatever I need to let out. Instead of a scream, it falls out in the form of words.
Writing digitally adds practicality to this deeply personal practice. With cloud storage, I can access my poems from any device, no matter the operating system, ensuring that my raw thoughts and feelings are always with me. Poetry is not just an outlet—it’s become a necessary ritual, an instinctual response to my emotions. It helps me process what I feel without bottling things up, much like journaling. But more than that, it’s something I’ve never stopped doing, which is rare for me. Poetry is a constant, and I’m grateful for it.
How Poetry Helped Me Heal
Poetry has been a transformative force in my life. During my teenage years, it served as a refuge, offering me a safe and private outlet for the complex emotions I experienced. In moments of darkness, when I felt overwhelmed, I turned to poetry as a release. It allowed me to confront my pain, understand it, and ultimately reduce its hold over me.
Even now, as an adult, poetry continues to help me navigate life’s challenges. It’s not just a tool to process grief, frustration, or anger; it’s also a way to celebrate hope and joy when they come. Writing poems gives me the freedom to express emotions that might otherwise weigh me down. Over time, poetry has taught me resilience, helping me heal from past wounds and face the present with clarity and strength.
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