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We talk a lot about boundaries on “Me, Myself, and Therapy,” about how essential they are for our well-being and healthy relationships. But putting them into practice, especially when you’re used to letting everything in, can feel incredibly daunting. It’s not just about drawing a line; it’s often about dismantling old habits and facing the fear of how others might react.

This poem, “The Fence I Built,” delves into that very personal journey. It explores the struggle, the initial discomfort, and ultimately, the profound peace that comes from defining your own space and protecting your energy. It’s a testament to the quiet strength found in building those necessary fences, not to keep others out entirely, but to create a sacred ground where your true self can flourish.

The Fence I Built

I used to live without a single line,
My garden open, yours as much as mine.
The gate wide swinging, for all feet to tread,
On tender shoots, where quiet hopes were bred.
I thought that loving meant to have no wall,
To give completely, answering every call.

The sun beat down, the weeds began to grow,
My fertile ground, a place where roots would go
From foreign seeds, that settled and would sprout,
And choke the dreams I’d barely whispered out.
My inner space, a common thoroughfare,
Left me depleted, breathing heavy air.

I felt the pressure build, a silent scream,
Awakening from an enmeshed dream.
Resentment’s tendrils, bitter and so deep,
For all the promises I could not keep,
To my own spirit, fragile and so slight,
Lost in the constant, overwhelming light.

So, stone by stone, with trembling, steady hand,
I started building, across my inner land.
Not walls to keep the world forever out,
But honest fences, leaving room for doubt,
And space for growth, and clear defined terrain,
To claim my purpose, through the sun and rain.

The first few planks were whispers, soft and low,
A gentle “no,” where I had learned to go
With every current, every demanding tide.
My voice would falter, trying hard to hide
The rising fear, of what they’d think of me,
This newfound limit, setting my soul free.

Some walked away, some lingered at the rail,
Some pushed against it, letting out a wail
Of disappointment, or a bitter sigh.
It hurt to hear them, as they passed me by.
But through the ache, a stronger current flowed,
The quiet peace of seeds I wisely sowed.

The fence I built, it lets the sunlight in,
And marks the sacred ground where I begin.
It nurtures quiet, cultivates my soul,
And helps me finally, feel truly whole.
Not shutting off, but clearly showing where
My heart resides, and what it truly can bear.

Now, invitations given are sincere,
And true connections, crystal clear.
For fences aren’t about exclusion’s sting,
But sacred spaces, where true selves can sing.
And in their shelter, love can truly bloom,
Dispelling shadows, banishing all gloom.