For so long, I lived in fear,
Afraid of being alone, drawing near
To friendships that felt forced,
Relationships that were broken and coarse.
I thought being with others would fill the void,
But deep down, my heart felt destroyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I chased company like a lost little child,
Filling my life with connections so mild.
I forced smiles in places I wasn\u2019t meant to be,
Staying where I wasn\u2019t wanted, just to feel free.
But each time I left, I felt emptier still,
Trapped in a cycle, against my own will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I was alone, my mind would race,
Bringing up flaws, mistakes I\u2019d face.
Traumas resurfaced in the quiet of night,
A constant reminder of my inner fight.
I struggled to sit with myself, to just be,
As the weight of my past closed in on me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I invited myself to places I\u2019d rather not go,
Clung to conversations that didn\u2019t really flow.
I sought validation from those who didn\u2019t care,
Finding myself lost in a world full of despair.
But slowly, I began to realize,
That being alone didn\u2019t have to feel like a disguise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I started to drift from those empty chats,
Letting go of events where I didn\u2019t fit in like a hat.
I stepped back from calls that felt like a chore,
No longer clinging to friendships that left me sore.
Instead, I took time to explore my own heart,
To understand my needs and give myself a fresh start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was scary at first, learning to be me,
Facing my thoughts, setting my spirit free.
But slowly, I found the joy in my own company,
In the quiet moments, I learned to just be.
Self-care became my new friend, my retreat,
And I started to see my worth, felt complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now I celebrate my own space and my time,
Understanding that solitude can feel so sublime.
I love myself more, embrace who I am,
No longer forcing connections, no need for a sham.
I\u2019ve learned that being alone isn\u2019t sad or wrong,
It\u2019s a chance to find strength, to grow and belong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So here\u2019s to the journey of finding my way,
To appreciating myself more with each passing day.
No more fears of being alone or unloved,
Just a heart full of peace, and a spirit ungloved.
I am learning to cherish the quiet and still,
To nurture my soul and follow my will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m more comfortable now, right here in my skin,
No longer chasing others, I\u2019m ready to begin.
So here\u2019s to me, my journey, my quest,
In learning to love myself, I\u2019ve found my true rest.
It\u2019s a beautiful path, and I\u2019m ready to roam,
For now, I know that I\u2019m finally home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
For so long, I lived in fear,Afraid of being alone, drawing nearTo friendships that felt forced,Relationships that were broken and coarse.I thought being with others would fill the void,But deep down, my heart felt destroyed. I chased company like a lost little child,Filling my life with connections so mild.I forced smiles in places I wasn\u2019t […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2791,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,25,98],"tags":[35,49,34,67,50,61,55,53,22,48],"class_list":["post-2790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-poetry","category-solitude","category-storytime","tag-poems","tag-poetess","tag-poetry","tag-preciousowoko","tag-spokenword","tag-spokenwords","tag-stories","tag-story","tag-walkingshadowpoetry","tag-walkingshadowpoetrykenya"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/pexels-photo-1666779.jpeg?fit=867%2C1300&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2798,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/embracing-me-by-walking-shadow-poetry-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":2790,"position":0},"title":"Embracing Me by walking shadow poetry.","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"October 24, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"I\u2019ve been scared for so long,Afraid of being alone,So I clung to friendshipsThat felt more like chains than home.In the name of company,I settled for less,In relationships that broke me,In bonds that caused stress. I thought I needed others,To fill up my days,But instead, I lost myselfIn a tangled, confusing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "POETRY"","block_context":{"text":"POETRY","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"woman in white long sleeve shirt standing near white and gray house during daytime","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/pexels-photo-103127.jpeg?fit=1200%2C625&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/pexels-photo-103127.jpeg?fit=1200%2C625&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/pexels-photo-103127.jpeg?fit=1200%2C625&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/pexels-photo-103127.jpeg?fit=1200%2C625&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/pexels-photo-103127.jpeg?fit=1200%2C625&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2608,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/i-thought-i-was-done-by-walking-shadow-poetry\/","url_meta":{"origin":2790,"position":1},"title":"I Thought I Was Done by walking shadow poetry","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"September 8, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"It started slow, just a voice in my mind,Saying things like, \"You\u2019re useless, you\u2019ll never findPeace in this life, nothing feels right.\"At first, I ignored it, kept it out of sight. But soon it got louder, hard to ignore,I started to wonder what life was for.I smiled in the day,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "POETRY"","block_context":{"text":"POETRY","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"top view of empty blank page of open notebook with orange freesia flower against a black textured background empty space for text concept of nostalgia sadness or remembrance","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-17234857.jpeg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-17234857.jpeg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-17234857.jpeg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-17234857.jpeg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2794,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/a-journey-to-myself-by-walking-shadow-poetry\/","url_meta":{"origin":2790,"position":2},"title":"A Journey to Myself by walking shadow poetry.","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"October 24, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"For so long, I was scared,Afraid of the silence, of being unshared.I thought that company meant I was whole,But the wrong friendships took a toll on my soul. I clung to connections that never felt right,Hoping to find joy, to feel some light.But in the name of togetherness, I lost\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "POETRY"","block_context":{"text":"POETRY","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"person wearing gray hoodie jacket watching lake","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/pexels-photo-1172253.jpeg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/pexels-photo-1172253.jpeg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/pexels-photo-1172253.jpeg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/pexels-photo-1172253.jpeg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/pexels-photo-1172253.jpeg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3485,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/the-hidden-power-of-alone-time\/","url_meta":{"origin":2790,"position":3},"title":"The hidden power of alone time","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"December 10, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"I don\u2019t compete against anyone.Not the people beside me,not the ones ahead of me,not the ones watching from a distance. The only person I\u2019m racingis the version of myselfI promised I would become. I compete against my past recordsthe things I said I would achieveand never did,the dreams I postponed,the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "poem"","block_context":{"text":"poem","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poem\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"PRECIOUS OWOKO","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Black-and-White-Square-Wedding-Logo-2.png?fit=500%2C500&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2683,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/ive-been-there-too-by-walking-shadow-poetry\/","url_meta":{"origin":2790,"position":4},"title":"I\u2019ve Been There, Too by walking shadow poetry.","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"September 18, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"I\u2019ve been where you are,Felt like the world was falling apart,Lost my parent, felt the ache,Like a piece of me was torn away,No words could fill that space,Just emptiness, day after day. Then I made a mistake,One I still wish I could undo,I cheated on the one I loved,Just days\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "POETRY"","block_context":{"text":"POETRY","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"person sitting outdoors","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-3368246.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-3368246.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-3368246.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-3368246.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-3368246.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3238,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/when-they-only-call-you-when-they-need-you-thats-not-love\/","url_meta":{"origin":2790,"position":5},"title":"“When They Only Call You When They Need You, That\u2019s Not Love.”","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"April 21, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"I used to think that giving was love.That showing up for everyone,Even when I was barely standing,Was a badge of honor. At first, it felt good.They smiled.They called me reliable, dependable, selfless.And yes, I believed them. But as time went on,I started noticing things,Subtle at first, but then loud enough\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "poem"","block_context":{"text":"poem","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poem\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2bdf2e09128dc2b2299f096909ad8689.jpg?fit=236%2C354&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2790","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2790"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2790\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2792,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2790\/revisions\/2792"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2791"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2790"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2790"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2790"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}