ALONG THE BARREN ROAD

Category: Sad Poems

  • A Goodbye Poem About Being In A Relationship With A Narcissist

    A Goodbye Poem About Being In A Relationship With A Narcissist

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    by

    Justin Farley

    It’s time to leave and say goodbye–a poem about being in a relationship with a narcissist.

  • The Chair Poem About Grief Death Dying

    The Chair Poem About Grief Death Dying

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    by

    Justin Farley

    The Chair Poem about Losing a Spouse The sun woke, stretched, streamed upon an early, April mourning. Birds arrived at the feeder chirping. I watched, sipping my steaming coffee. For a minuscule moment distracted until I noticed the chair out of the corner of my eye still indented with your body’s footprint. And I thought…

  • Sandcastles Poem About Hardships in Life

    Sandcastles Poem About Hardships in Life

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    by

    Justin Farley

    SandcastlesPoem About Hardships in LifeThe weariness of life is enoughto make even the watchman tired.His heavy eyelids close with eachcomplexity of life that breaches the palace gates.There he waits until all he aspiredfor crumbles beneath the harsh realities of lifelike the sandcastles he built as a boy,cold, green, frothy ocean dashing all his work in…

  • Running Poem About Changing and Working on Yourself

    Running Poem About Changing and Working on Yourself

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    by

    Justin Farley

    RunningCan I get a cup of wineto drown the time,to float away fromthis heavy heart of mine?Or perhaps a speedy carthat’ll take me fast so faraway from these expired dreamsnow void of stars?Maybe a boat to sail these seasthat swallow me with easeeach time the tide of my moodshelplessly carries me out with no reprieve?But…

  • Beauty’s Elegy Poem About the Fake Life of the Digital World

    Beauty’s Elegy Poem About the Fake Life of the Digital World

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    by

    Justin Farley

    Beauty’s Elegy Beauty is dead. She’s decaying in her casket by common consent. She withered and shriveled into a ghost because our eyes no longer saw her, glued to our synthetic screens, while she sensually danced begging for attention but found no audience among this generation. Beauty cried out but her shouts went unnoticed among…

  • Mother Nature’s Sleep – Winter Poetry About Nature

    Mother Nature’s Sleep – Winter Poetry About Nature

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    by

    Justin Farley

    Mother Nature’s Sleep The snowflakes, the silence echoes across the dark winter’s night. Nothing but a coat to keep out the frozen breeze that whips and throws snow like confetti into the air without a cause to celebrate except for the breath still in my chest, the only warmth I have left living in the…

  • When Sorrow Comes – A Poem

    When Sorrow Comes – A Poem

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    by

    Justin Farley

    When Sorrow Comes I’m old enough now and have lived through enough winters to know that as you begin reaping joy sorrow already begins to grow. This life promises many harvests but one crop it’s certain to sow – that beyond the warmth of summer comes the cold, winter snow. It’s not about protecting yourself…

  • The Race – Poem about Hard Times and Not Giving Up

    The Race – Poem about Hard Times and Not Giving Up

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    by

    Justin Farley

    The Race A Poem about Hard Times and Not Giving Up The race has run me ragged and has planted a stitch in my side. My burdens seem to keep getting added; I’m too weak to go on despite all I’ve tried. If only I could glimpse the finish line, then maybe hope would prevail.…

  • Poem About Being Human, Making Mistakes, and Growing Old

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    by

    Justin Farley

    We’re Only Human The older we get the less certain we are of absolutes. But one thing we’re absolutely certain of is our flawed, human nature. When we’re children we yearn for the day we’ll have all the answers, when we’ll no longer feel scared or vulnerable, and when we’ll stop making stupid mistakes. Until…

  • The Tortured Artist – A Poem

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    by

    Justin Farley

    The Tortured Artist by Justin Farley Utterly bound by the need for discovery, yet plagued by the awareness that finding leaves me no farther along my journey in the eyes of the world. The most tortured artist is the realist who’s aware he’s playing the fool, but must play his role regardless, knowing it’s the…

  • Poem About Destiny and Fate

    Poem About Destiny and Fate

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    by

    Justin Farley

    A Haunting Fate What is this voice that comes howling in my heart… this restless ghost that suddenly comes flooding out of the fog of night… this ghoul that haunts despite my pleas, desperately pulling me towards a distant light? I consistently pull away from its advances, swatting away its hands like pesky gnats swarming…

  • Internal Fire – A Poem

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    by

    Justin Farley

    Smoke fills the lungs. Warning signals run in desperation to alert the mind in a race that’s become all too familiar. Flames engulf my entrails like dry twigs thrown on a campfire on an August night. In frantic panic, eyes search for aid, but people pass by as if nothing were amiss. Surely someone must…

  • Deep Poem About Depression Feeling Emptiness

    Deep Poem About Depression Feeling Emptiness

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    by

    Justin Farley

    A poem poem depression, examining what it means to be depressed and feel nothing—no sadness, no desire, no happiness—and to feel all the warmth of life disappear.

  • Poem About Modern Society Issues and the Negative Effects of Technology

    Poem About Modern Society Issues and the Negative Effects of Technology

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    by

    Justin Farley

    A post and poem commenting on modern society issues and the negative effects of technology that compares modern life to an old, simple, and little village. The post centers around living a simple life.

  • Poem About Broken Dreams – “Dream-Weaving”

    Poem About Broken Dreams – “Dream-Weaving”

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    by

    Justin Farley

    Dream-Weaving – A Poem The seams of my dreams are unraveling –Thread stretched out in heaps,Ensnaring my feet, tripping me, sending me fallingInto jaded existence.Innocence, where is my resistance to your demise? This cloak once kept me warm in the night,but is now tattered, holes allow the howling windTo chill the depths of my soul.No…

  • Poem About Modern Society Issues Today and the Wisdom of an Old Woman Dying

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    by

    Justin Farley

    Even as a 30 year old man, I am already seeing the changes of modern society. While some of the changes in society are advances, many leave me questioning whether they are positive and reminiscing for “the way things used to be”.  Friendships are based online and often more face time is in front of…

  • A Post-Modern Portrait – A Poem

    A Post-Modern Portrait – A Poem

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    by

    Justin Farley

    “But I like the inconveniences.” “We don’t,” said the Controller. “We prefer to do things comfortably.” “But I don’t want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin.” “In fact,” said Mustapha Mond, “you’re claiming the right to be unhappy.” “All right then,”…

  • Living With Fear – A Poem About Anxiety Disorder and Mental Illness

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    by

    Justin Farley

    Living With Fear – A Poem About Anxiety and Mental Illness Close your eyes.Keep yourself blindTo the hideous beastThat hides beneath this veil of security. Pretend you can’t see meFor who I am –A scared, frightened, shell of a manRaging in the solitude of fear’s prison. I can’t even stand the visionThat stares back at…


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My Poetry Collections

the book cover of Nature's Bounty by Justin Farley— a poetry collection about the beauty of nature with subjects on birds, plants, trees, animals, the forest, and God.
A deep poetry book about the beauty of nature and the natural world by poet Justin Farley.
the book cover of Frozen Rivers by Justin Farley— a poetry collection about depression and the hardships of mental illness, balanced with nature poems on the season of winter.
Deep poems about depression and the hardships of mental illness, balanced with nature poems on the winter season by poet Justin Farley. Book 1 of the Seasons series.
a mental health poetry book about joy and nature poems on the season of spring
Inspirational poems about mental health, healing, and spring by poet Justin Farley. Book 2 of the Seasons series.
the book cover of Summer Days Sunburnt Nights by Justin Farley— a mental health poetry book about bipolar disorder and nature poems on the season of spring
Deep poems about bipolar disorder and being neurodivergent, balanced with nature poems on summer by poet Justin Farley. Book 3 of the Seasons series.
the book cover of A Voice in the Wilderness—A Chapbook of Poems About God by Justin Farley. It is a deep Christian poetry collection about contemplation, the spiritual journey, and finding grace through Jesus.
A contemplative, prayerful Christian poetry book about the spiritual journey and discovering God’s grace, mercy, and love.
the book cover of Thorns of Love by Justin Farley. It is a deep love poetry collection about sadness of breakups, divorce, and heartbreak.
A deep love poetry book about the pain of break ups and the heartbreak felt when relationships end by poet Justin Farley.