Nobody gets a kick out of writing hardship poems, for obvious reasons. We write what we know, and most of us are just as happy keeping hardship a stranger. That said, we all go through times of trial, and writing or reading cathartic hardship poems can lift our spirits considerably. Sometimes, we need to wallow in our misery a bit. Other times, we need to vent about it. Much of the time, though, we are simply looking for a ray or two of hope. In this section, Hardship Poems, you can be sure to find plenty of all three. I hope you also find some relief, as I did in writing them.
FINDING THE POEM YOU WANT: As you scroll through this section, simply read each snippet sample (usually the first four lines) to get a feel for the poem. When you find something you like, click “CONTINUE READING” to view the entire poem.
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My friend, thou need’st not shelter me
from sorrows that are thine.
If I choose to bear thy burden,
I must cast off one of mine.
∞§∞
If this poem resonates with you, you might also enjoy reading On Wishes, Sorrows, and Tomorrows.
I do have the faith to be healed.
How does God weigh our prayers
if the outcome is sealed?
Are we asking amiss to
petition our bliss when
the Lord’s will has not been revealed?
My roots are planted,
but they’re running fallow,
too shallow for the work
I need to do.
Life hurts. Love heals.
God allows us all the feels.
Hardship rains down on our hearts –
clouds our vision, stops our starts.
Even the peaceful soul must know distress.
Knowledge was never gleaned from nothingness.
Duress is key, yet joy brings lessons too.
Bitter and sweet (combined) divine what’s true.
Hope was not meant
to lock in the result
that we hope for.
Hope is simply a force
to ease burdens and
light our way through.
Brokenness heals –
cracks wide our throbbing doors –
lets go, lets God,
lets out the flood that pours
from swollen skies.