Sara Barrett

Sara Barrett Jan 11

Society taught me to hide.
A mask became my survival.
Now I wear the crown they covet,
and my truth drowns their silence.

Description
A raw exploration of breaking free from the pressures to conform, this poem reflects the transformative journey from hiding behind a mask to stepping into one’s true power. It speaks to the courage it takes to silence the noise of societal expectations and embrace the authenticity that is both freeing and fierce.

#empowerment #strength #selfdiscovery #resilience #freedom #independence #women #power #ocean #storm

Sara Barrett Jan 11

Untethered

I was never made to be an anchor.
I am the storm that cannot be stilled,
the ocean that cannot be held,
and the light
that leads itself home.

"Untethered" captures the essence of resilience and self-reliance. It is a tribute to those who embrace their own storms, navigate uncharted waters, and become the guiding light in their own journey.

#empowerment #strength #selfdiscovery #resilience #freedom #independence #women #power #ocean #storm

Sara Barrett Jan 6

Sinking, But Rising

The shoreline stares back at me—
Almost tasting it,
A distant, golden line lies ahead.

The tide is like a clenched fist,
Tightening around my ankles,
Dragging me down even further.

I tell myself I know this sea.
I have swum through it before,
Charted its depths,
I felt its pull, outlasted it.

But today, the water rises,
My chest feels the pressure.
Salt and silence fill my mouth,
Despite my kicks, the current grows stronger.

The waves swallow my screams.
Like a storm, PMDD surges—
No warning, no mercy.

My ribs tear,
Its voice floods my mind—
Why bother fighting it? Let go. Sink.

I claw at the water,
Not from strength,
But from fear—
This time, maybe I won’t make it.

Rage consumes me.
I rage that I can’t trust my own body,
That my mind betrays me,
Dragging me under,
While the world above remains calm.

Even as I sink, somewhere—
I feel it:
The part of me that will not drown.

She remembers the taste of sand,
The heat of sunlight was on her skin.

She will not let go.
Not now. Not ever.

The shore is still there,
Even if I can’t see it now.
I will rise to meet it.

My power is inevitable.

Sinking, But Rising is an emotionally charged exploration of the internal turmoil many women face, especially those experiencing PMDD, perimenopause, or the challenges of motherhood. The poem sheds light on the often misunderstood and invisible struggle of living with hormonal shifts that feel like a battle between mind and body, where women are unfairly labeled as "crazy" or "overreacting." It brings awareness to the lack of support, proper education, and understanding from society and medical professionals when it comes to women's reproductive health, especially during transitional years. The poem serves as a powerful reminder that while the tide of hormonal imbalance can feel overwhelming, women possess an undeniable strength and resilience, even when it seems as though everything is pulling them under. It emphasizes that women are not at fault for their bodies’ betrayals and that, despite the struggle, they will always rise.

#pmdd #perimenopauseawareness #womenshealth #hormonalstruggles #reproductivehealth #mentalhealthawareness #strengthinstruggle #womenempowerment #women #mothers

Sara Barrett Jan 4

Severed Ties

We met like two ships,
Bumping into each other,
Sailing side by side.
I patched your hull,
Bailed out your water,
Believing you’d steady your course.

But when the waters calmed,
You sailed off,
Only to return when storms stranded you,
Too wild to navigate alone.

I sounded the horn,
A signal of your drifting course.
You cut the ropes, severing ties.
Now, sailing alone,
I leave your wreckage behind.

"Sailing Alone" delves into the complexities of a connection where one person constantly offers support, only to watch the other drift away when things are calm, returning only when challenges arise. Through the metaphor of two ships, the poem explores the emotional toll of unreciprocated care, the realization that boundaries must be set, and the moment of letting go. Ultimately, it speaks to the strength found in moving forward, leaving behind what no longer serves, and navigating the waters alone.

#sailingalone #boundaries #empowerment #strength #selfworth #lettinggo #growth #healing #women #support

Sara Barrett Jan 3

In The Forest of Us

Side by side,
We walk through time’s forest.
Your steps lead with confidence,
Eyes ahead, charting the way.
I trace the map,
Trust guiding us into the unknown.

We listen—
Whispers in the leaves,
One deep in thought,
The other watching the horizon,
Feeling the air shift.

When confusion clouds our path,
We lean in,
Finding solace in each other’s gaze.

In frustration, we pause—
Our hearts the roots,
Trust the steady tree beneath us.

The forest thickens,
The trail blurs.
Hand in hand,
We press forward—
Each challenge a part of our story,
A dance of give and take.

Leading, following,
Each stumble strengthens us.
Doubt does not falter us;
Our bond lies in how we work together.

Through tangled branches, broken paths,
We find joy.
Laughter rings—
Each clearing a new adventure,
Each turn, a discovery.

As the sun dips low,
Shadows stretch.
The journey’s thrill lingers—
A promise that, no matter the path,
Hand in hand, hearts entwined,
We journey on,
Forever bound.

"The Forest of Us” is a contemplative journey through the landscapes of love and partnership, using the forest as a metaphor for the complexities of shared life. The poem weaves themes of trust, perseverance, and connection, celebrating the beauty found in navigating challenges together. With introspection and vivid imagery, it explores the delicate dance of leading and following, of finding strength in vulnerability, and of discovering joy amidst uncertainty. Ultimately, this piece is a tribute to the enduring power of unity. A reminder that even when the path is unclear, the shared journey is its own reward.

#poetry #lovejourney #partnership #trust #marriage #husband #woman

Sara Barrett Jan 2

Let Them Drown

You’re considered too wild, they say
a storm that never stops raining,
a flame that burns without end.

You were more to their liking, however.
when your voice was barely a breath,
a shadow pressed against the wall.

They considered your silence graceful.
By hollowing you out—
Confusing stillness with softness,
Your passion for destruction.

Being too much is impossible, isn’t it?
It’s only just begun for them.
Entering your depths slowly.

The reason is that you are the sea.
Deep, rising, and endless.

Allow them to drown.

"Too Much" is a declaration of self-empowerment, a response to those who attempt to silence or diminish the fullness of one's being. Using the imagery of storms, flames, and the sea, the poem explores the tension between being misunderstood and reclaiming one's truth. It is a call to embrace one's passions, depth, and wildness, despite the discomfort it may cause others. The poem speaks to the power of owning one's space in the world and the freedom that comes from shedding the expectations of those who fail to see beyond the surface.

#women #empowerment #survivor #wild #authentic #healing

Sara Barrett Dec 2024

Survival's Raw Grace

"You made it look easy," they whisper—
A phrase that echoes, hollow and sharp,
Cutting through the quiet of my solitary journey.

Navigating parenthood alone,
A military spouse stretched thin by distance,
Selling dreams as fragile as glass,
Balanced on the edge of every choice.

A diagnosis presses against my chest,
One child in my arms, another learning beside me.
Battles hidden behind closed doors,
Invisible to those who see only the surface.

When I bared the depths of my soul,
Resilience bloomed like wildflowers—
Not a cry, but a roar.

Judgments swirl around me—
A storm of misconceptions,
Echoes of untold stories etching my truth.

Others glimpse my path only when they walk similar roads,
Their perceptions shifting like sand,
Revealing the landscape of unseen struggles.

My journey is not a blueprint,
Nor a promise of simplicity.
Each step a singular rhythm,
Each challenge a raw, unscripted melody.

I didn't make it look easy;
I made it look possible.

Resilience is not a performance,
But a quiet, fierce rebellion.

No shortcuts, no easy roads—
Just forward motion,
Carved from determination,
Etched with survival's raw grace.

This poem gives voice to the unseen struggles that accompany strength. It challenges the idea that resilience is effortless, peeling back the layers of solo journeys, hidden battles, and quiet determination. With striking imagery and a steady rhythm, it speaks to the reality of carrying on—not to make it look easy, but to make it possible. It's a reflection on survival, perseverance, and the unspoken grace of moving forward despite it all.

#resilience #militaryspouse #parenthood #strength #survival #determination #hiddenstruggles #emotions #journey #perseverance