Poetry: Getting in Touch

Writing Your Own Poetry for Your Mental Health

I believe one way to get in touch with your feelings is through poetry. Poetry is a means of expressing our inner selves - our thoughts and our feelings. Writing poetry is a way to get our feelings out and sharing them with another human being can be a very intimate experience, fully exposing our insides, hopefully to a person we trust.

This exercise in particular is an excellent way to get in touch WHO we are, WHAT we are, WHAT we like and so on. I have found this exercise to be very helping in learning about oneself.

I have used this exercise with my college students and not only was it enjoyable to create but enjoyable to share with one another.

Patty Fleener M.S.W.

I AM

I am (two special characteristics you have).
I wonder (something you are actually curious about).
I hear (an imaginary sound).
I see (an imaginary sight).
I want (an actual desire).
I am (the first line of the poem repeated).

I pretend (something you actually pretend to do).
I feel (a feeling about something imaginary).
I touch (an imaginary touch).
I worry (something that really bothers you).
I cry (something that makes you very sad).
I am (the first line of the poem repeated).

I understand (something you now is true).
I say (something you believe in).
I dream (something you actually dream about).
I try (something you really make an effort about).
I hope (something you actually hope for).
I am (the first line of the poem repeated).

by Suzi Mee