CHARLIE IN THE DARK

By Cheramy Thul

As I close my eyes, the lights get brighter. I see music in colors with every stroke of the cello. White and yellow lights come and go.

As I lie in bed—hopeless, empty, and alone—I rub my feet against my white quilted blanket. I’ve never noticed how beautiful and peaceful the material feels. The bright lights continue to flash as I feel myself floating in the air—floating and falling farther down, away from the visions of music.

In this moment, I finally feel free. No fears. No burdens. For only a moment, I feel safe.

I try to find a safe place in my mind, but I just can’t. I want to stay in this feeling forever. I’ve never let go of the pain that has held me captive in a drowning pool filled with sorrow—a pain so deep that, with every breath I take, it strikes my soul.

My breath shortens as I shake. Why can’t I breathe?

Alone, alone, alone yet again.

No one can hear me. No one can see me. I’m screaming and crying in the darkness. I am alone.

I can see him.

He is watching me.

I cannot escape him.

ABOUT THE POEM: This is my first poem, ever. This is after 40 years of pain and trauma. Struggling in silence.

WINDOWSILL

By Jon Billinge

I see you on my windowsill

I know that you are there

Across a gulf of noticing

Are you now brought to bear

I see you on my windowsill

How clear you are to me

Your outline lives in my mind’s eye

At home in periphery

I see you on my windowsill

I’ve worked to view you there

I know you are my passenger

I feel I am less scared

I see you on my window still

But also that beyond

And in that gulf of noticing

I feel that I belong



ROOM FOR PEACE

By Rachel Stumbaugh

You were never meant to bend yourself into someone else's idea of lovable,

nor to spend your life convincing them to see your worth.

We keep trying to earn love from people

who’ve already shown us they don’t have it to give.

We keep circling the same wound, chasing acceptance,

adjusting our voice, shrinking the truth,

reshaping ourselves

just to find the illusion of love.

They say “you are too much”, “sit down and shut up”, “stay out of the way”.

We explain, prove, chase

hoping they’ll finally meet us where we are,

while they teach us

to apologize for taking up space.

You cannot meet truth

by continuing to avoid it.

They want a conformist,

not a truth-teller.

Silence,

not growth.

Compliance,

not truth.

Love is not supposed to be an illusion.

Accepting reality can be painful,

but there is freedom in no longer fighting it.

Let them misunderstand you.

You were made for safety—

to speak without fear,

to be heard without proving,

to be understood without explaining every wound,

to be fully seen,

fully known,

and still be loved.

Let go of the need to be understood

by those committed to misunderstanding you.

Release what was never yours to carry.

Accept what you cannot control.

Forgive what you can.

Let go of the need to be accepted

by those who require your silence.

And leave room for peace

to find you.

ABOUT RACHEL: Rachel is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has been in practice for 10 years. She works with people who present with complex trauma, attachment issues/disorders, and PTSD. She is also a trauma survivor herself, with PTSD and ADHD, which is why she has such a passion for working with this population. Although she has been through many years of her own therapy and healing journey, she recently found herself in a place of healing the core attachment wounds that were developed, most likely, in her pre-verbal ages (getting to this point can take many years for most). One thing she discovered that has helped her express her thoughts and emotions is writing poetry, and for Rachel, this poem really encompasses the nature of attachment trauma and healing, not only from a personal perspective, but also from a perspective of hearing hundreds of stories just like hers, and hopes this poem is encouraging for others with attachment trauma during their time of healing, growth, and building of self-actualization.

On the themes of mental health, from poets around the world.

September 2025 to September 2026

Get your poetry featured on this website and on our Facebook page. Click on the below link for options and guidelines:

Featuring poets from around the world, with up to six pieces of their work, and a little about the author and the stories behind their work.

And lots more ...

In their own words, writers and poets write about their own personal journey with mental health.

Ten amazing writers and poets talking about their own personal journey with mental health.

Promoting poetry books and publications.

And lots more ...

We have published over 100 books for other people. Just a few examples below:

Get your poetry featured on this website and on our Facebook page. Click on the below link for options and guidelines: