Lessons in Courage and Fear
By TH
This poem was written in response to a writing prompt from the Pongo Poetry Project.
In my life I have known courage–in facing against all odds
Nowadays courage is felt, but seldom seen
I’ve learned courage from trial and error
What courage tells me is you never know how much you have until you need it
Usually I listen to what my heart tells me
I wish more people would show courage against all injustices
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Your poem radiates strength and wisdom. The reflective tone gives it an emotional feel, and the change from personal experience to a universal call for justice is really moving. Lines like “you never know how much you have until you need it” resonate deeply. It’s clear that you’re writing from a place of truth, and that honesty shines through every line. Keep sharing your voice because your words have the power to inspire courage in others.
This poem beautifully captures the quiet, often unseen resilience that defines true courage in the face of life’s challenges.
Hi TH, great poem! It is super powerful and honest. I like how you describe courage as something learned through experience. The line about not knowing how much courage you have until you need it really stood out to me. I also admire your wish for more people to stand up against injustice—it’s a strong message. I think you did a great job and you have a true gift with writing!
This poem has such a quiet strength to it. I love how you describe courage not as something loud or showy, but as something revealed through experience—through “trial and error.” The line “you never know how much you have until you need it” really resonated with me. It’s so true how courage often shows up in the hardest moments. I also admire the closing thought—there’s a gentle call to action in wishing others would stand up to injustice. Beautifully written and powerful in its honesty.
I love this poem!! I 100% agree that courage is barely seen. This poem could be a real inspiration for some people! I love the last sentence where you states, “I wish more people would show courage against all injustices” because you really do need courage in your everyday life! Overall, I really liked this poem!
TH I really loved this. It struck home for me that you don’t know what you have until you need it. Showing courage for injustices feels hard but when you listen to your heart it always tells you the truth. This is so well written. It really touched me. Please keep writing. You have something special and I would love to read more from you.
this is great! i really enjoyed reading this! i can tell you worked hard on this because you are absolutely right. this world needs courage and i’m proud of you for your courage to write something that calls people to action. keep going! you’re doing great!
This is so beautiful especially because it is so important in today’s word where we see injustice everywhere and hatred runs rampant we really need to have a little more courage to stand up for what is right. The line in the poem that courage is felt but rarely seen really resonates with me and with the current situation. People are comfortable enough to say something is wrong or agree with what they see online but when the time comes to speak out and make change in order to face this injustice we shrink away. The poem perfectly encapsulates this situation which we need to get away from in order to safeguard our world’s future.
The poet did a beautiful job expressing personal growth and resilience through the lens of courage. The line about discovering courage only when it’s needed is powerful and relatable, showing insight gained from lived experience. They effectively use simple language to convey complex emotions, making the message accessible and heartfelt. Overall, the poem is sincere and thought-provoking, encouraging readers to reflect on their own courage in the face of challenges.
I can truly relate to this. having courage in such trying times and using this courage to fight the injustices of the world is so important.
Good reminders for all of us to think about. Great perspective and outlook to have. Stay strong you have the strength and courage to come out of this stronger. Thinking of you and sending healing thoughts.
This poem thoughtfully highlights how courage goes unseen but is essential in times of need. The line “you never know how much you have until you need it is particularly impactful, and the call for more courage against injustice adds depth.
TH, This poem speaks with quiet strength and a sense of lived wisdom. The way you reflect on courage—not as a loud, flashy act, but as something built through “trial and error”—is powerful and true. You remind us that courage isn’t always about dramatic moments; often, it’s about the quiet choices we make in difficult times, the kind that shape us when no one’s watching.
The line “you never know how much you have until you need it” especially stood out. It captures the essence of inner strength—how it’s often discovered in the middle of hardship, not before. That makes your message relatable and grounded in real experience.
I also appreciate how you end with a call for others to show courage, especially “against all injustices.” It turns the poem from reflection into a gentle challenge to the reader—to not just admire courage, but to live it.
If anything, I’d love to see even more personal examples or specific moments where courage showed up in your life—doing so could deepen the emotional connection even further.
Your words carry weight. Keep writing and sharing your truth—it’s exactly the kind of voice the world needs to hear more of.
Im so glad you were able to express your feelings through this poem, this is something a lot of people struggle with including myself and I wish I was able to do this. This is a great poem.
This poem is a heartfelt tribute to the quiet power of courage, reminding us that true bravery often reveals itself in our hardest moments. It encourages reflection on how inner strength can guide us when the world feels uncertain. Your words inspire others to listen to their hearts and stand up for what’s right, even when it’s difficult.
I love how this poem treats courage as both a lesson and a presence. The line “you never know how much you have until you need it” hits hard, so true in life and struggle.
This poem is amazing! It really resonates with me and shows how much and how little courage people have regarding particular issues. I like the message you left at the end, expressing your wish that more people would show courage against all injustices as it shows the partiality towards what people show courage towards and what they don’t. I also like how you gave your own personal experience, by starting off with how you have known courage, by facing against all odds. This poem, overall, leaves a strong message and I really enjoyed reading this!
This is such an interesting perspective! 🙂
Hi TH,
Wow, this poem is really profound. Courage is so powerful but can feel so intangible at times, and I think this poem does a great job of reflecting that. The encampment at the end also emphasizes a new component, injustice.
Great poem 🙂
This poem is both reflective of the writer’s personal battles, as well as a call to action. I deeply appreciate the message that courage is not about being fearless but instead lies in listening to what your heart tells you and standing up for what’s right, even when it’s hard or you’re alone. The courage to support loudly and proudly what you know is right, is a strength that few people have today. I applaud this writer’s ability to be seen and felt, continue expressing yourself.
I enjoyed reading this poem. You captured the true meaning of courage and the need for it in today’s world. Just because people are not put in challenging situations themselves doesn’t mean they shouldn’t use the courage inside of them to help others.
Great poem TH. My favorite line is how you never know how much courage you have til you need it. So true. We all could dig deep. Thanks for sharing and please keep writing!
This poem was beautifully written and inspired me. It was a great reminder that we have so much more courage than we think. The world would be a better place if everyone was able to show a little more courage. Good job!
Wow, what a great poem! This poem offers a heartfelt reflection on the nature of courage, showing how it is discovered through personal experience and inner strength. The simplicity and sincerity of the language make the message accessible and relatable, emphasizing that courage often reveals itself in difficult moments. The final wish (for more people to stand up against injustice) adds a hopeful, conscious note that broadens the poem’s impact.