The act of writing is the act of discovering what you believe.
–David Hare

Lynne: These poems were written by adult patients in a poetry therapy group that I led on a psychiatric Partial Hospital Unit. This particular collection was the result of a structured activity where the group was given six different “first lines” that were displayed on an easel. The patients were asked to choose one to begin their poem with. Modifications were made for patients who were either fully illiterate or had mild to moderate trouble with spelling and grammar, i.e. dictation if they did not know how to write. The group would then read, or have me read their poetry aloud. We would then proceed into verbal group psychotherapy based on the material that the poetry elicited. As you can see, the “first lines” I write are always designed to pull for dynamic issues. As with all of the creative arts therapies, this makes the work fun and less intimidating while still yielding very powerful results.

The spelling, grammar, and formatt are authentic to each author.

p o e t r y



A woman woke up early in the morning feeling very sad.
I am that woman.
I get up every morning to the say things. And it makes me sad because I don't know what to do.
I try to do things different.

Joyce B.




When I think back on my life there are thing I wish I had done differently.

I don't know that my life would have been better.

It is said that every experience that one has makes them who athey are today.
I am where I am now and this is certainly not my wish.
I feel I have had so much more pain and only rare moments of happiness and peace.

I only hope the next time I come to a fork in the road
I pick the opposite of the one
I have traveled on until now.

Michele W.




A woman woke up in the morning feeling sad.
And that woman was me.

For the past few months I have begin up very sad. When my husband was at home it was different. we had our ups and downs but we had each other until one day without realizing my husband picked up and left. It caught me by surprise because I never say myself in the future without him and it only show you that you can't believe or trust anyone!

But I hope that if I can't save my marriage I can at least get over this really bad feeling of hurt.

Violet F.




A man woke up early in the morning feeling very sad.

Because it was Christmas and he had no present in his Christmas tree and all because the man he believed in scrooge and not Santa Claus.

Chris P.




A man was traveling in a city he had never been to before.
All of a sudden he was some friends. He knew they had never been to the city before. They had a good time talking about the city and he never forgot about the trip he took.

Gordon A.




I was traveling in a city I had never been to before.

I saw an incredibly beautiful sunset.

It seems like a lifetime ago.

sometimes I still dream about it.

This was the only time my husband and I took a vacation together and I believe it was the best and most peaceful block of time I ever had.

The place was Captiva Island in Florida — it seems like the end of the earth. Everything was pink and blue and orange and yellow all blended together. It just took my breath away.

I miss that time so>

Shaniqua B.

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