A Place Inside of Me

 I recently read a children's book titled "A Place Inside of Me" by Zetta Elliot.  Inspired by this deep work, I took up my own pen and created a series of emotions inside myself.  When done, I sat back feeling a single thing: relief.  So, here I have matched my poem with picture to give you an idea of Elliot's book.  I encourage you to try writing a similar piece yourself!


There is a place inside of me
A lively city inside of me
Where feelings wrestle for prominent place
I'm learning to listen to their voices

There is fear inside of me
A shaking terror deep in me
Shadowing my entire view
Chasing me into a shell

There is confusion inside of me
Puzzling bewilderment I see
Choices tangled in a knot
I know not which is right

There is doubt inside of me
A looming presence I long to flee
Former beliefs crash to the ground
I look at the rubble in agony

There is jealousy inside of me
Longing in another body to be
Threatened by others' success
Angerly feeling inadequate beside them

There is anxiety inside of me
Worry paralyzing my being
An abyss of unknowns
Catastrophe lurks everywhere

There is pain inside of me
I'm hurting to unspeakable degree
My heart sometimes threatens to break
Tears slide down my face

There is frustration inside of me
An anger I'm not free
The tide hinders easy movement
My fight goes unseen

There is despair inside of me
An anger and pain mingling
Atrocious acts surround the world
Good seems crushed by evil

There is curiosity inside of me
A love for new, original creativity
My hands itch for colors
Heart seeks out the different

There is love inside of me
A heart-felt empathy
Reaching to embrace those troubled
Yearning to listen and comfort

There is endurance inside of me
Perseverance that won't bend a knee
Resiliently I trod along
Even if I crawl, battered by the storm 

There is diversity inside of me
Viewing every country equally
Interested in cultures from abroad
Yearning to learn all I can

There is passion inside of me
A fight for the oppressed in need
I speak out for the unborn,
Abused, neglected and minority

There is patience inside of me 
To let people tell their story
Or wait out a traffic jam
Trying to stay present in the moment


Comments

  1. Everyday BeautifulFebruary 13, 2022 at 3:54 PM

    Lydia your words made me cry! Your struggles and turmoil are real and they break my heart. Yet I hear the courage and strength in your words too. I hear you growing and sorting out. I hear you making progress. I hear the beautiful young women I know. I hear the incredibly special smart talented person you are. I love you Lydi-lou!!

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