Some people keep a journal to write down their thoughts on a regular basis. The act of putting pen to paper is said to be therapeutic. I've tried the regular journal practice, but have never gotten into it. For some reason, writing down mundane activities and thoughts about them never appealed to me much.

I keep a poetry journal, instead. My entries are fairly far between, but I do find comfort in expressing my emotions, particularly when I'm working through a difficult time in my life. Like Elizabeth Barrett Browning's love sonnets, my journal is secret. Only a few selections will be shared publicly. So... while I put my heart out on my sleeve, I hope you enjoy the following:

First Love (1994)

The slow, sweet kiss of his lips

left an indelible impression upon her soul

Never again will a caress

fill my heart with such emotion

His essence permeated her senses

as she surrendered to him

eagerly, innocently.

Never again will I experience

love of such power

Oh, how she lingered when

the two finally parted

Never again will I see

the pain in his eyes

Letter Home (undated)

Went home yesterday to the place I belong

Time stood still

My heart raced

Your touch was strong and familiar

Though I hadn't been held before

Was it only a moment or eternity?

I settled to a quiet place

in my soul

Emotion washed over me

Around the sappphire blue room

Dreams blur into reality

I travel back in my mind

Drawn by the purest love

And desire to remain

enveloped forever

In Dreams (undated)

Crystalline eyes are mine

moving through impervious forest

acres of wheat and wildflowers

Scorching, shifting sand dunes

Then collapsing, laughing

when salty foam laps at our feet

The wind lifts our bodies

as high as our souls

Soaring over sparking waters

below

Beyond care

Reason is lost

as I am

in your eyes

My experience with poetry writing is that the words tend to flow more easily when you write with the expectation that it will not be read by someone else. Later, you can decide whether or not to share your poetic expressions with others, or with those about whom your poems are written.

Experiment a bit, and see what you think. As I stated in the introduction, my most personal poems are still locked away in the vault. I doubt whether I will ever publish some of those highly personal expressions.

There are some great resources for those just starting out that wish to read books on the art of poetry. Check them out at Amazon.com. Want to share a poem? Leave me a link in comments below.