Poems About Being Overwhelmed

Poetry has the power to express feelings and emotions in a way that prose sometimes cannot. One common theme that poets often explore is the feeling of being overwhelmed. Whether it's by stress, emotions, or life in general, the feeling of being overwhelmed is something that many people can relate to. In this article, we will explore a few poems that capture this feeling of being overwhelmed.

Overwhelmed

By Emily Dickinson

I started early, took my dog,
And visited the sea;
The mermaids in the basement
Came out to look at me.

And frigates in the upper floor
Extended hempen hands,
Presuming me to be a mouse
Aground, upon the sands.

But no man moved me till the tide
Went past my simple shoe,
And past my apron and my belt,
And past my bodice too,

And made as he would eat me up
As wholly as a dew
Upon a Dandelion's sleeve—
And then I started too.

And he—he followed close behind;
I felt his silver heel
Upon my ankle,—then my shoes
Would overflow with pearl.

Until we met the solid town,
No one he seemed to know;
And bowing with a mighty look
At me, the sea withdrew.

Overwhelmed by Life

By Langston Hughes

Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So, boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps
’Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now—
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

Feeling Overwhelmed

By Rupi Kaur

i feel like I am the ocean
that keeps crashing on the shore
for no matter how much it tries to stay
it always ends up needing more

my heart is heavy with its waters
and I’m drowning in the depths
but no matter how much I’m overwhelmed
it’s hard to catch my breath

the waves keep coming relentless
one after another they sweep me away
and I am left feeling powerless
as they carry me astray

Poems about being overwhelmed capture the intense emotions and struggles that come with feeling like life is too much to handle. Whether it's the pressures of everyday life, overwhelming emotions, or the weight of the world on one's shoulders, these poems offer a glimpse into the raw and honest feelings that many can relate to. Reading and writing poems on this theme can be a cathartic way to process emotions and find solace in knowing that others share similar experiences.