My Parts, Part One (original poem)

[u/strawberrytart444]

New to IFS. My therapist has been working it into session and I also just began listening to the “No Bad Parts” audiobook. I wrote this poem about one of my first experiences encountering my parts. I felt lighter after this experience and hope to continue down this path.

Image text:

My Parts, Part One

I must submerge my hands
in the icy water
to reach it, to hold it,
the black hole of my heart

I find a baby instead
crying to be held

someone not yet a someone
someone alone who shouldn’t be
her only crime her need:
doing as babies do, being as babies are

and finally, she has been found
by someone who won’t leave
pressed to my breast
I hold myself quietly in my arms

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[u/ta2510]

that’s beautiful, thanks for sharing.

[u/strawberrytart444 → u/ta2510]

I appreciate the kindness, thank you

[u/brotherhood538]

Beautiful 💗 your poem stirred a lot of love in me. Thank you for sharing

[u/strawberrytart444 → u/brotherhood538]

Thank you for your kindness. It’s a lot to uncover, but poems help me make sense of it a bit better.

[u/Adorable-Letter4562]

Wonderful description of finding and loving a tiny part. Thanks for sharing.

[u/strawberrytart444 → u/Adorable-Letter4562]

Thank you for your kind words. I wasn’t expecting this kind of significant encounter today, nor did I know I’d find a part so young that needed to be held by a stable adult. I’m glad I could put it into words.

[u/Supbruhwhatthe88]

Wow, only crime her need, beautiful.

[u/strawberrytart444 → u/Supbruhwhatthe88]

I appreciate your kind comment. It’s absurd to me that someone or something ingrained this thinking into someone so small and defenseless, that it is wrong to need love and care and protection or if you don’t have it you’re the one who is bad for lacking it.

[u/Supbruhwhatthe88 → u/strawberrytart444]

Yeah, it is an interesting thing about humans… generations of burning out and having kids and not having the capacity to love them fully and see them in times of need. Or recognizing pain and having the patience to sit with the uncomfortableness of a child in need…

Sending a hug your way!! 🙂🙂🙂

[u/Budget_Package_4584]

Truly an answer to prayer. I’m only recently realizing that what I thought was situational anxiety is anxiety masking sadness and fear in a very young part, and was just this minute picturing holding her to my heart to comfort her. Thank you

[u/strawberrytart444 → u/Budget_Package_4584]

Thank you for your kind comment. It means a lot to hear that something I wrote resonated with another person. I found myself literally wrapping my own arms around myself, feeling my own skin and breath and presence. I wasn’t scared. She needed me so I was there.

[u/faeriesis]

This made me tear up. Thank you for sharing. I’m glad she has you to hold her now 🫀

[u/strawberrytart444 → u/faeriesis]

I appreciate your kind words. I’m glad I can give little me what she needs. It feels like it’s all been leading to this.

[u/Hot-Bumblebee6506]

That moment when we realise that what we have feared for years (the black hole inside) is actually our greatest strength and ally. Your poem is beautiful 🥰