How much should one expose about themselve's, when writing a poem? This is the eternal question, and a subject I have considered ever since i started writing. Because when you do invest a poem with your own emotions, good and bad, you leave your self open to other people's opinion, which may be negative.

There is an argument against using poetry as therapy, and some may say that is what you do when you include your own feelings in what you are writing, But I don't really consider it as a cheep form of therapey,, i have always used poetry as an outlet for my own thoughts and feelings.But not because i expect it to have the same effect as visiting a shrink, but because I feel that what is the point of writing if you don't invest something in it you just end up with a sterile piece of work, if you don't..

Another reason to open up when you write, is when the feelings are real, there is more weight behind them, which enables you to write about humamanity in general, as we all have positive and negative experiences..

The last point i wish to make is, just because your work is emotional, it doesn't mean it has to be dark. Love, happiness, and forgiveness, are all valid themes. And speaking for myself, that is what i'm working on, i'm trying to emerge from the shadows, and expand into other areas, that remain emotional.

Lou