Art therapy - share your work here

[Deleted member 37474]

I wrote this poem decades ago and was reminded of it in a letter. It was a friend's favorite, in fact...

This poem makes me think of my youngest daughter.

 

[Deleted member 41765]

@TexCat Stylistically and thematically my work has matured over the years. Something about this feels important though...

 

[Changing4Best]

AWAY

I hate the darkness
love the light

morning brings me hope
night is for sleep

I peek out the window
making sure he's not there

I think he's 600 miles
away in the dark

He would not like it here
usually I live in peace

Knowing he would never
survive in this valley

Filled with love
filled with light.

 

[WishfulThinking123]

I used to write a lot of poetry when I was younger. I really have gotten away from that for the most part. However, I did write this poem a couple of months ago...

I will always give the look
Walk the walk and talk the talk
My sexuality will always be there
No matter how much I wish it would disappear

I will always be there to do whatever you wish
No matter the pain or longing itch
Something different is what I wish
Oh how I am reminded that will never be

You see all I am is what I will be
There is no normalcy except in fantasy
TV's and movies show a life that will never be
I will forever be available in the cage you have put me

I will always allow myself to be used and abused
However, my mind and spirt always to be hidden
Trusting any man with my heart and soul is a feat that no one shall ever know
However looking for one night? Knock on my door and I will be there

 

[Changing4Best]

READING
Opening the book
to the last page I read
refreshing my memory
then moving on ahead

Learning something new
doing the drills
always expanding my mind
gives me the thrills

Today's book is easy
all about PTSD
it kind of reminds me
how I'd love to be free

Free of this scourge
to live a life of ease
thinking healthy thoughts
doing what I please!
skb

 

[Deleted member 42957]

S. Harm

It's building up
To reach the sky
Like a volcano
with a burning eye.

Hot bubbles boiling
The ground starts to shake
The time has come
When no ones awake

Lightning strikes
And splits the ground
Lava erupts into
Red streams all around

Like the veins of earth
Looking from above
Pumped from the heart
Releasing red doves

The lava rocks build
And stop the flow
Stillness comes back
And nobody need know

The skin is restored
Earths core satisfied
Until next time
The stream purified

 

[Changing4Best]

I HAVE TO HIDE IT

It isn't because I'm filthy
though I am a bit cluttered
these things have a stigma
so I won't tell a soul

It's like mental illness
no one would want
to be near me
or be my friend

So I hide it under the bed
hoping no one sees
searched out my own solution
paid the price myself

This works, friends say
I believe them too
no one who loves me like that
would lie to me like others do

So I keep it to myself
no one has to know
it's just between me and God
this little secret of mine.

skb

 

[WishfulThinking123]

I look at you
You look at me
But do you see me?
The real me?
No of course not
I don't let you
For I am but a chameleon
Changing colors based on your preferences
Who am I?
I have no idea
As I said
I am but a chameleon
With no personality of my own
Lost, I have been told visual perception is everything
So, again who do you want me to be?
Changing in an instant- of course none of this is reality
Who am I?
I told you, whoever you want me to be...

 

[WishfulThinking123]

Trapped, Caged
Alone, Cold
One look from you
I know its time to pay what is owed
After all I belong to you, right?
Every body part- as you have reminded me
Deep breath, disassociate
Do what is expected
Don't focus on pain
Focus on pleasure
It will be over quicker
No means nothing
This is my ending
Sexual servitude
Well- no more
I have left you bastard

 

[Deleted member 33052]

@ShikibuZ, @SheilaKathy @WishfulThinking123 @Mangochutney thank you!!! Thank you all so much for sharing pieces of your soul with us!! I'm in tears right now.

@ShikibuZ, I'm not a mystic. Not even a little bit, but as I read your poem, I felt a...shift...in the air around me. You took me to a place - a plane - I didn't know existed.

@Mangochutney, I wanted to thank you for sharing that beautiful poem. I believe you perfectly described the *release* that so many of us (myself included) couldn't survive without.

@SheilaKathy, your words express both pain and hope. Do you find that writing poetry is therapeutic for you? Have you been writing since the trauma, and if so, has the tone of your poetry changed?

@WishfulThinking123, I just learned a lot about you! I can't think of a better start to a trauma diary than one of those poems. So much pain, yet there's defiance and strength.throughout! I'm looking forward to reading more...

 

[Changing4Best]

@ShikibuZ, @SheilaKathy @WishfulThinking123[/USER...

I've only gotten back into writing recently. It does help me, therapeutically, yes. I use writing to express stuff to my therapist too. Also, drawings. She was not over impressed with the drawings, but I did 5 of them and showed them to her. I guess she could not say much about them. I think she was happy I did them though. Doing them did help me some, while I was doing them, things kind of lifted a bit. They are not artistic so much as therapeutic. I will see if I can share one here, see below:

I'm the pink baby in the crib, and the hands are my abuser's hands. Like I said, it is no masterpiece, but it helped me to draw it.

 

[Changing4Best]

MAYBE THINGS HAVE CHANGED

I find myself thinking
how did all this happen to me?
Do I have some sign
give some signal
that I am weak
or vulnerable?

How do they know
that I am the ONE
that will not fight back?

Ah! Then I did fight back
ONCE
I pummeled that kid
he ended up in the H.

It was too much for me
fighting back
so I cringe now instead
taking it
not blowing my top.

Finally I think I got it right
I spoke plainly
that I did not like
being teased.

He got it.
Now he teases no more,
but the silence is deafening!

Sometimes you just can't win
you have to take things as they come.

My days are more peaceful now
at least I have that
I will not complain
in my new freedom!
skb