LOST & FOUND POEMS

This is a collection of poems written by some of the participants of our Creative Healing Workshop at Hope4Life, with guest author Diana Rodriguez.

The poems were inspired by the following fill-in-the-blank prompts:

I AM_____

I AM FEELING_______

I WANT TO SEE MY SELF IN FIVE YEARS OF HEALING_________

We called this collection of poems "Lost & Found" because most of us lost ourselves hiding from our pain. The interesting part, however, is that when we actually face our pain (even if it's through poetry), we find ourselves again and God fills in the blanks for us. Below are just a few of the many poems that were birthed that day, from some of the participants who decided to share.

I AM …

I AM ALL THE WORDS I DON’T SAY

I AM THE TEARS I SHED

I AM THE LOVE I CRAVE

I AM THE TRUST I MAKE

I AM LOUD SILENCE IN PAIN

I AM LAUGHTER WITH NO SHAME

I AM SUNSHINE AND THUNDER

I AM NOT ALONE OR ASTRAY

I AM THE FURY I RAGE

I AM THE LOVE I CRAVE

I AM BELOVED WITH NO SHAME

I AM EVERYTHING I DIDN’T GET

I AM MY MOTHER’S

I AM MY FATHER’S

I AM THE LOVE THEY MADE

I AM FOUND WITH NO SHAME

I AM NEVER LOST OR ASTRAY

I AM WHOLLY WITH NO SHAME

I AM THE LOVE I MAKE

I AM THE LOVE WITH NO SHAME

I AM I AM’S

AND WHO I AM MADE.

By Yemibeth Zamora

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HERE I AM, FEELING MY PAIN

Here I am, feeling my pain

So much hurt that I can finally cry

There’s more to search and gain

From asking the question why?

Look pass the trauma

I see my false self

Where were you mama

I needed you for my health

Where did my identity go?

I lost myself in addiction

Now I live with nothing to show

All along I longed for adoration

Where do I belong?

I feel so alienated

For now I just hold on

Hoping to feel accepted

Feel it, name it

The heart of the problem

I’ll give this the credit

My feelings of shame

Now I know the issue

I can keep showing up

Just hand me a tissue

As I heal and grow up

Unconditional love was the answer

My younger self begged for

Many times It made me look weaker

Too many times I chose to ignore

So I built a belief

For self protection

That resulted in grief

I let go of that projection

I am loved and chosen

this is the beauty of healing

Learning to forgive my broken

Through the reality of feeling

By Tuan Le

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I WANT TO SEE MYSELF

What I envision, is irrelevant without a willingness to see it through.

Knowledge is power

Courage is attainable and

I am capable.

I wonder if my dreams will ever come true. I wouldn’t have to wonder, If I would just do what I have to do.

I want to be seen.

I want to be heard.

I want to be loved.

I want to be understood.

I want to be respected.

I want to be admired.

I want to be forgiven.

I can envision making a difference. I can envision happy children and a truly loving marriage.

I want to envision myself in full acceptance of wherever I may be; physically, emotionally and spiritually.

I will live in my vision, while accepting my reality.

By Lissy Rico

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AWARE

The love of the now

The feeling of knowing

Not understanding

Why, where or how.

Yet we live in love

Without really knowing

That now we understand

What love does

Right where we stand

In the now

In the where

In the how

By Giorgio Cerboncini

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PARALYZED

Pain left you Paralyzed

with no one to empathize

Scared of the unknowns

Moments of fear, down to the bones

What’s the point of having wings

When you can’t even fly

Use the voice that sings

“It’s always worth a try”

See that it’s okay to be brave

And feel afraid in an instant

True courage is like a wave

Flowing, crashing, persistent.

Don’t lose yourself in the anger

Speak up and let it be seen

It may seem hard but you are stronger

Than what you thought you have been

See life become colorful

No longer black + white

But truly Beautiful

When you step towards the light

By Tuan Le

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I AM FEELING FREEDOM

Freedom to express my emotions

Willing to walk away from pain,

every step I take draws me closer to my Freedom.

Wanting to love myself brings great joy & Freedom

Letting go of what I cannot change pushes me to my Freedom

Choosing to break free from my chains of Shame gives me Freedom

Taking off my mask an allowing myself to be naked & not ashamed in my Freedom

Wanting to love again gives me Freedom

Accepting who I am & who I belong to gives me Freedom

Embracing my Father’s love gives me Freedom.

By Colin Aparicio

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I AM FEELING

I am feeling anxious

I am feeling scared

I am feeling nervous

I am feeling sad

When I am alone