Guided Exercises:

Here is a list of poetry prompts to help you get started on your writing! Not all of these prompts are for therapeutic poetry, but it will help get your ideas flowing. Happy writing! Click on the link to be guided to “Poets and Writers” or pw.org

Below are a few different forms of poetry to help craft your art even further!

Concrete Feelings Poetry

  • Write a abstract feeling word, for example “depressed”

  • Circle the word and draw lines out from the circle

  • Write words next to the line that you describe as depressed, words that make the idea more concrete and felt with senses.

    • Examples words: alone, blue, never ending tunnel, dark, closed door

  • Use the words you brainstormed to create a free verse poem. (Don’t worry about it rhyming or “sounding good”)

Here is a link to a website to give you more direction if needed: Link

Example of concrete poem:

Haiku

1. Understand the Structure

  • A traditional haiku is a 3-line poem with a specific syllable pattern:

    • Line 1: 5 syllables

    • Line 2: 7 syllables

    • Line 3: 5 syllables

  • Example:

    Soft rain on the roof (5)

    Whispers lull the world to sleep (7)

    Night exhales gently (5)

2. Choose a Theme

  • Haikus often reflect nature, seasons, or a fleeting moment of emotion or awareness. You can write about anything, something you see, feel, or remember.

3. Focus on the Present Moment

  • A haiku captures a small, vivid moment. Think of it like taking a snapshot with words. What are you noticing right now? A breeze, a shadow, a feeling?

4. Count Your Syllables

  • Speak your lines aloud or clap them out to check syllable counts. Adjust words as needed to match the 5–7–5 pattern.

Validation Poetry

1. Start with a Feeling

  • Begin by identifying a real emotion you're experiencing—or one someone else might feel. It can be anything: sadness, anxiety, joy, loneliness, anger, or hope.

  • Example: “I feel overwhelmed.”

2. Name the Emotion Clearly

  • Write a simple line that says the feeling out loud. This is an act of honoring the truth of that emotion.

  • Example: “This sadness is heavy today.”

3. Affirm That the Feeling is Valid

  • Follow with a line that acknowledges the feeling is real, human, and okay to have. Avoid judgment or trying to “fix” it.

  • Example: “And it’s okay to feel this way.”

4. Speak With Compassion

  • Use kind, gentle language, like you're talking to a friend. If you can, include comforting or soothing imagery.

  • Example: “Even clouds need time to pass.”

5. Offer a Small Truth or Hope

  • Close your poem with a line that reminds the reader (or yourself) that they are not alone, or that healing takes time.

  • Example: “You are not broken, you are becoming.”

6. Keep It Short and Honest

  • Validation poems don’t need to rhyme or follow a strict structure. A few sincere lines can be powerful. Write from the heart, and don’t overthink.

  • Example:

    Today feels heavy.

    And that’s okay.

    You are allowed to pause.

    You are still whole.

    You are still here.