Best Self Discovery Poems
We are born ---
we live, we die;
and in between we gaze the aftermath of the gods...
and the great shining stars at night ---
with greater grip in old age than fleeting youth;
More fiercely we cling to ebbing mortality,
as if there is more in elder years,
and as a fledgling we only know a rising sun;
for it never sets in first-time life,
whilst excitement drifts like snow in later years,
its coming appreciated all the more,
like the end of a mystery movie nearing...
Was it good? ---
or was it bad?
Will we ever see the credits?
***Meditations on Mortality***
I’m not the body
suffering
not even the mind
6/22/2018
MagiCicada 13 - Body and Mind Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Maureen McGreavy
2025 Poetry Marathon Mile 7 Poetry Contest// Sponsored by: Mark Toney
Contest Judged: 8/15/2025 5:31:00 PM
( 2nd Place )
Written: August 10 , 2025
The morning fog low over the empty streets,
soft as a whispered promise.
My shoes slapped the pavement in steady rhythm--
each step a heartbeat counting the miles.
I had yet to run—and those I’d left behind.
Streetlamps stretched shadows across brick walls.
Long, crooked shapes that seemed to shiver.
A dog barked somewhere—
sharp, sudden—
and I remembered even echoes can run far.
I passed the river, silver in the first light,
leaves drifting like tiny paper boats
carrying laughter from summers I can’t hold anymore.
Each puddle mirrored my worn determination,
the uneven steps of a life I’m still figuring out.
At Mile Seven, my legs shake like a leaf
but my brain knocked around a long way—
to faces I love, faces I’ve lost,
half-light I trailed too heavily,
mornings I never perceived.
My hair was windblown.
Mixed with the scent of rain and earth
and the faint hope that keeps moving me further.
I ran—not for medals, not for applause,
but because every stride stitched the fragments
of life into something that felt whole.
When the horizon caught the light--
it wasn’t a line at all.
It was the journey itself—
miles abaft me, ingrained memories,
and the quiet truth.
I ran just find myself
and somehow--I did!
Searching in the wilderness,
amongst thorns and creeping silence,
Finding myself lost and dazed.
The night whispers in my ear,
of unfulfilled dreams and desires.
I find myself alone,
praying that this isolation doesn't last for long,
I have journeyed into the wastelands,
Too far to turn back and admit defeat.
Bound by the weight of discovering myself,
I persevere on guided by determination,
I seek the truth of truths,
an answer to my place in this world.
Listening to the calls of my heart,
a mysterious force pushes me towards my goal.
Giving me strength when I fall,
sheltering me when darkness calls,
Parts of my life I have lost,
Parts that defined my identity and shaped my destiny,
I yearn to find the missing parts to complete myself,
In this journey of self-discovery,
I venture incomplete but I shall return whole.
They say there’s a touch of God in every one.
An Angel inside, that is sitting there… ready to come out.
He’ll have to wait a little bit longer… Dragon just woke up.
He’s a tad bit persnickety, which makes me rather petulant.
Yeah! He drives me slightly crazy, as I say: Oh Well! So What?
Yep! He poops on my roses and he rains on my every parade.
But he’s still the best friend… I assure you… That I have ever made.
He’s a tad bit crazy, but I believe my imagination, is the very same.
He’s the ying to my yang, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Every time I think something up and I begin to sit and write…
Dragon gets ahead of me and leads me into another plight.
He’s perfect in a parable, story, or even a fable or two.
Lord Have Mercy! NOW what next… am I going to do?
I know… I’ll try to use him to pay my son’s student loans!
While everyone is incredulous, I’ll be raking in the dough.
I guess dreams are good for something… Don’t you know!
Come here my little Dragon, it’s time to start an adventure, again.
Now, where shall I begin? OOOPPS I’m talking to myself… again!
Imagination Contest: Carol Eastman 5-19-2014
Wobbly, these feet… sagging on miles
of dangled reeds: a hike takes me
to an attic of moonlight, bestowing bows
of serenity prayers for wayfarers
unyielding to a precise compass
of direction, reckless as it were,
losing the self to gypsy stones
and nomadic thistles bearing my trails...
for a moment, I release this soul buried
in the belly to a chorale of air's hymns
taking flight unto a trail of obedience
moved by pure lightness: no longer a weight
or content divided, but equaled by
forms of singularly whole reminisces...
)*
*.))
Poetry Unhinged for john lawless
8/29/2016
I embarked on a journey of self-discovery
To find that where I began was also my destination
We would like to think that life has some magical equation
I have travelled across the sea and through eclipsed forest floors
I’ve climbed the highest peaks only to discover
That God must be higher
Trawled the abyss to discover that I have limitations
And that hell might not be below the surface
I studied human nature to find that I don’t fit into
The physiological make-up of the theorists
I’ve aged to discover that the fountain of youth
Is only within my mind
I’ve bled to discover that we all are red below the surface
I’ve loved only to find that it is accompanied by heartache
I’ve died and yet I cannot tell anyone
What lies afterlife?
On a voyage across a vast
sea of discovery. The tide is
turning through winds of
change, now every day shall
not be the same.
My crashing waves with in
my mind are turned to calm
waters, the air is still and the
water stiller. with a clear view
of the horizon and opportunity
rising.
The whirlpool ceases turning
and my mind is at rest, this
whirling mess can new be
addressed.
From the deep blue sea I break
the surface, gasping a fresh new
start its a chance to make a whole
new me.
I'm discovering many things
as the storm water calms, its
time to find the true man I am.
Every outside element
Each one holds inside
Whether fiery hot
Or
Icy cold snow
We must learn to temperate
For in this self discovery
Our true character will show
I see me in every little scared child
Littler than even the smallest of her peers
Voiceless outside, screaming inside
Taking solace in a closed space with a dozen imagined friends
I see me in every defiant teenager
Beautiful, smart yet full of lies and seductive tricks
She knows no better
The awed uncles are just wolves waiting to tear her apart
I see me in a distressed youth
Unwanted baby in hand, no man to pat her back
Now she knows better
A smile too many leads down a dark path to disruption
I see me now a woman with a vantage view
Able to sift the shaft out and tell rubies from ruffles
Through pain strength is born
Robe cladding, teeth shining, accolades shimmering, claps roaring
Where is my life heading? why do I constantly feel like I'm going in the wrong direction?
is it a lack of confidence or my intuition? I have a vision but I cant put it into words.
even if I could you'd never understand its not like anything you've ever heard.
Can someone please point me into the right direction? I feel like im losing all connection to reality and human beings, i feel like an alien on a television screen.
Im screaming but no one can hear me. They refuse to listen I'm trapped in a mental prison.
Dawn on my skin,
Sun warms good feel;
Feel deep within
A touch that heals.
Morn seeds a smile,
Dreams float away;
Awake to style
A brand new day.
Bow my head here,
Gratitude feel;
A cause for cheer
To greet goodwill.
Tiptoe and stride,
Face to face greet;
Feel time and tide
Bring blessings sweet.
Now on the verge,
Embrace dear heart;
Warm thoughts emerge
Hurl lovely start.
A day to be,
As love now peaks;
Yes I can see
Beauty now speak.
Joy in my face,
Watch happy style;
Here with fine grace
Life feels worthwhile.
Bliss can live here,
Yes I can feel;
Wise cause for cheer
In love's grand thrill.
Thanks be to God:
Grace calls to me;
Thank You my Lord
For love that frees.
Leon Enriquez
29 November 2017
Singapore
Self Discovery
A
Violette Poem
sometimes I remember
our time in September
that became an ember
Faint memories
it's unforgettable
not understandable
We aren't valuable
gone centuries
I gave you everything
my love was bellyaching
you don't give anything
wasted journeys
your love slipped from my hands
please stop violent chants
your downgrading commands
angry flurries
from sunny to aching
I am slowly breaking
stop your selfish taking
dark galleries
hopefully you'll soon go
and I can slowly grow
the old me will soon flow
discoveries
By Sam Tab | April 2, 2018 | love
2 of us together
always and forever
Loving you as days go by
never having a reason to cry
no more sorrow
no more pain
nothing to lose
everything to gain
my friends they warn me
they say that he's wild
"listen you guys...i'm not a child"
we go to the movies
and then to the park,
that's when i notice
it's gotten very dark.
he says that he loves me...
there is nothing to fear.
Sweet Jesus help me...
he is getting too near!
all that i have is my friends and my pride,
and i am not afraid of the feelings that I hide!!!
Kissing and hugging is all that i allow...
i have too much pride to waste EVERYTHING now!!!!
Faded maps,
Empty promises,
A king's cruel decree.
Shadows lengthen,
On shattered temples, dust
Chanting, a false saviour.
Twisted truths,
A poisoned well,
Power's hungry grip.
Ancient stones whisper,
Secrets buried, buried deep,
We must find our light.
A single spark,
Igniting the heart,
Shattering the chains.