Before You Share: A Note on Courage & Care This space exists for truth, not performance. When you share a poem here, you don’t owe anyone polish, explanation, or permission. You don’t need to justify why you wrote it or apologize for how it sounds. A few lines of context is enough. Let the poem breathe on its own. Write like this: Share what feels honest Share what feels unfinished Share what feels risky That’s usually where the real work lives. Receiving feedback Take what resonates. Leave the rest. Feedback is an offering, not a verdict. If something doesn’t fit your voice or your moment, you’re allowed to set it down without guilt. Giving feedback Respond to what moved you, not what you’d change. No fixing. No correcting. No ego. If you didn’t connect, it’s okay to simply listen. We protect courage here. We honor the wound without trying to heal it for someone else. When you’re ready, share a few lines, not to impress, just to be real.

A quieter space for deeper work I’ve opened a small paid space for writers who want to go deeper without rushing or performing. It’s called Art of Poetry – Inner Circle. If you’re ready for that kind of work, the door is open.

“This is a free space to share, learn, and grow together. The Inner Circle exists for those who want deeper conversation, guidance, and connection.”

First off—thank you to everyone who shared. That takes courage. A few gentle thoughts that might help as you keep writing: • Write honest before you write clever. If a line is true, we’ll forgive it for not being perfect. • Let one feeling drive the poem. You can have many ideas, but choose one emotion to carry the weight. • Images work best when they serve the feeling. Ask yourself: Does this image deepen the moment, or distract from it? • Endings matter. A strong ending doesn’t explain, it lands. If you feel the echo after the last line, you’re there. • Read your poem out loud. Your ear will catch what your eyes miss every time. Poetry doesn’t have to follow rules, but intention makes it powerful. Keep writing. Keep sharing. This is real work.

First off—thank you to everyone who shared. That takes courage. A few gentle thoughts that might help as you keep writing: • Write honest before you write clever. If a line is true, we’ll forgive it for not being perfect. • Let one feeling drive the poem. You can have many ideas, but choose one emotion to carry the weight. • Images work best when they serve the feeling. Ask yourself: Does this image deepen the moment, or distract from it? • Endings matter. A strong ending doesn’t explain, it lands. If you feel the echo after the last line, you’re there. • Read your poem out loud. Your ear will catch what your eyes miss every time. Poetry doesn’t have to follow rules—but intention makes it powerful. Keep writing. Keep sharing. This is real work.