POEMS ABOUT SELF ESTEEM, SELF WORTH, SELF RESPECT

A WISH

A little boy is dreaming of
A star that always shines above.
Whenever he looks at the sky
He sees her shining way up high. 

"If I could only shine that bright,
I'd shine on every human heart. 
I'd make them happier than they are. 
Oh, how I wish to be a star!"

A girl is dreaming of a wedding ring. 
​Dog wants to talk, a frog to sing. 
A cat is wishing he could swim
Well, everybody has a dream.

And so I have a wish for you.
I wish you'd always find it true
That in God's eyes you are a star
And you're the best the way you are. 

LILIANA KOHANN
©ArtPeace 1994 (verify date)

 I wrote this poem/song for my sons when they were little. While producing the song in the studio, I wanted to include recordings of children sharing their different dreams. To avoid influencing their answers, I asked my friend Joan to interview my boys. We expected answers that would relate to the toys they wanted or some typical child-like dreams. The interview started with my six-year-old son, Adrian, whom we called Adrianek as a child. His response was so special and unexpected that it caught Joan by surprise.
"Adrianek, if you could have all the toys in the world, or do anything in the world, what would you do?" Joan asked.
"If I could do anything?..." Adrian delved into deep thought. After a moment, he proclaimed with strong conviction, "I'd help sad!" He then waited for the next question.
Joan was puzzled. She waited for a while, hoping he would clarify his answer. Eventually, she asked, "You'd help... sad???"
Adrian, with a tone of voice that made it seem like the most obvious thing in the world, spread his palms and answered, "I'd help sad be happy! Simple."

I wanted to share this story with you because I also didn't expect such an answer from my six-year-old son. Now, years later, I realize that I created this online literary journal, TheHealingPoems.com, for exactly the same reason — to MAKE YOU HAPPY!

​One of my huge passions is to spread lullabies that instill positive messages. I often sang this song/lullaby to my boys when they were little. ​In the recording below, in the middle section of the song, you will hear them sharing their dreams. I decided to put Adrian's answer at the beginning of the song. You can hear the song and the excerpt of the interview here:

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OH, NO!  SAID BIG O.

Oh, no!
Said Big O.
Look
what happened
                    to me!

I’ve lost weight
And I look great
But they
still look
                  at E.

“That’s too bad,”
said the Alphabet.
But Big O
thought
                for a while.

And then it said:
“It’s not so bad,
at least
I look like
                    I.

LILIANA KOHANN
©ArtPeace Publishing 2005

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KNOW YOUR VALUE

Know your value. 
Even if you are lost among those acknowledged by the world,
know your value. 
When you are next to a self-centered, snobbish man,
know your value. 
When you are belittled by your insensitive supervisor,
know your value. 
When you are ignored by the more popular ones,
know your value. 
Even if your own loved ones don’t understand or appreciate you,
know your value. 
And when you fail in your journey,
know your value. 
If you’re left with nothing, standing naked on the streets,
know your value. 

Because to Me you’re the treasure of treasures. 
With precision and pride
I made each of your bones, each cell of your body,
and oh, your heart...
Your heart is carved out of Mine. 
I feel its every beat. 
Like a mother feels every move of her baby
inside her womb,
I feel your every smile, every concern, every doubt. 

When you doubt your value,
you doubt Me. 
My heart beats with your beat. 
You are My greatest creation. 
To Me you are beautiful.
With all your perfect imperfections,
you are beautiful.

Know your heart. 
Know Me. 
Know your Value.


LILIANA KOHANN
©Artpeace 2001
(Received in Silence)

The only way to be strong

I need to love me when I’m not loved.
I need to love me when I am down,
and when I fail, when I give up
and when there’s nobody around.

I need to love me when I have doubts,
and when I say things that are wrong.
I need to love me when I am weak.
That is the only way to be strong.


LILIANA KOHANN
©Artpeace 2002

“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
                           —Maya Angelou

phenomenal woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

MAYA ANGELOU

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