-Inner child-

When you find her,

hold her little hand.

She carried her sadness alone,

with no one there to soothe her pain. 

 

She cried in silence,

unseen, unheard—

no voice to tell her,

It’s okay. You’re not alone. 

 

See her now,

with your mind’s eye.

Her heartbeat still echoes in yours,

her pain lives in the body you now carry. 

 

What would you say

to help her hold on?

To remind her there is hope

and that another day will come? 

 

Would you tell her

she will smile again?

That life will become something

more beautiful than she ever imagined? 

 

Would you sit beside her

until the pain felt a little less heavy—

shared, at last?

Would you kiss her forehead and say,

I’m so sorry for all that you went through.

You never should have had to carry that alone. 

 

Can you hold your inner child now?

Offer her the love, safety,

and tenderness she needed back then? 

 

She is still with you,

quiet but strong—

a little girl who learned to survive,

and who is so brave

for never truly hiding.

  - ©️ 2025 Annmarie Brennan 

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 ** Journey life again **

If I could journey through life once more,

I would hold you in my arms,

rock you gently, and keep you safe.

I would protect you and guide you,

nourishing both your body and your soul.

 

I would defend you without hesitation

and wipe away every tear.

I would hold your hands through moments

you were too young to understand

and far too little to carry alone.

 

I would try to make your days magical,

to slow the pace at which you had to grow,

and to ease the weight of your path,

so your journey might have been

a little less painful.

 

And now, as I look back with tenderness,

I realise the child I long to comfort

has always been me.

The arms I yearned for are my own,

learning, at last, to hold the girl

who needed gentleness all along.

 

Annmarie Brennan © 2025

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-Who am I?-

Am I the therapist in this poem
Please listen and you’ll see
Or am I a client in need of help
Relax your mind, just be……….

I’ve seen this place so many times
And I’ll see it so many more
I’ve faced so many demons
Some from the present and some before

Here I take the steps to the building
Where I’ve grown in many ways
I’ve been here countless hours
And I’ve treasured all my days

We’ve spoke about some problems
Some are great and others small
We’ve dug through many issues
Only to face another fall

I’ve reflected so many times
On the worries that came my way
And because I’m constantly growing
I know here is where I’ll stay

The time I have inside this room
Is precious to me, you see
I’ve had times of pure exhaustion
And times of heart felt glee

As I speak some words to you
My eye-contact doesn’t break
Looking down, the quickest glance
I see the hands begin to shake

I remember all those things
That was said to me before
I take a breath and clear my mind
And search within for something more

We speak about so many things
And the air begins to clear
A time of clarity and release
So far and yet so near

Within these walls of confidence
An air of calm I feel
With hope and fear and strength inside
The hurt begins to heal

Your pain has brought you places
That you never thought you’d see
The strength you have inside yourself
An understanding to be just me

And once again stood face to face
We wish each other well
Another week brings another day
Of more pain and woes to tell

I journal all my feelings
And ponder all I wrote
The question is not who I am
The answer is I’m both

      ©️2025    - Annmarie Brennan

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- My wish for you -

I wish I could tell you that you don’t need to be a certain size to be loved.

I wish I could tell you that you deserve more happiness than you feel right now.

I wish I could hold you, hug you, and dry your eyes.

 

I’d ask you to look in the mirror at the body you’ve grown to hate.

That body has carried you through so much — so much pain,

So much sadness, and so much joy.

 

I wish I could show you the two little babies who are now teenagers.

From your body came so much love.

I wish I could tell you that food is not your enemy,

And that one day, you will find peace.

I wish you could see beyond your physical self,

To the incredible person you already are.

 

And when that day comes — when you feel like ending it all —

I wish I could be there to tell you:

Hold on.

Please, hold on.

- ©️ 2025 Annmarie Brennan