Pick Me Up Poem– A Poem About Starting Over and Rebuilding After Rock Bottom
- Deborah Ann Martin
- Nov 29
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 29
From Rock Bottom to Rebirth — A Journey in One Poem
I wrote Pick Me Up when life had unraveled at every corner — relationships ended, friends betrayed me, and the version of my world I once knew was gone.
What started as a poem about grief and devastation slowly became a story of hope and rebuilding. I wanted this poem to feel real because healing doesn’t happen overnight. You take one small step… then another… and somehow, one day, you start to feel alive again.
This poem walks you through that process. The pain. The anger. The effort to reclaim joy.
And maybe, if you’re in your own messy chapter, it can help you too.
Pick Me Up
In this latest test,
Life has left me a mess.
I didn’t just lose it all.
I didn’t just have a fall.
I lost some family and friends.
I found the lies had left my honor to defend.
The truth was met with unbelief.
From the troubles, there seemed to be no relief.
The world that used to be
It was no longer a part of me.
The life I knew was at an end
And there was a new one that I was forced to begin.
At rock bottom, I had to figure it out.
Emotions were too great that I wanted to shout.
Where do I begin to sort this mess?
The first was to realize I’m still blessed.
Compared to some, my troubles were small.
I had a job, best friend, health, higher power thru it all.
I had to find a way to pick myself up.
I had to find the strength to deal with this breakup.
I realized it’s ok to grieve.
I had to give myself a little reprieve.
I needed to avoid the craziness and strife.
I needed clarity on how to begin my new life.
I began working on me.
I needed to figure out where I wanted to be.
How do I improve my emotional state?
How do I take charge of my new fate?
I would surround myself with positive friends.
I would avoid all who offends.
I saw who was there for me.
Drama, craziness, and ugliness I would flee.
That meant social media for a while had to go.
That meant repeating the story from now on was NO.
Learning to forgive was hard to do.
Especially when the attacks still come at you.
Places and things we once knew.
Were replaced with new memories of things I’d do.
When the old image would creep in,
I’d replace it with the new one again and again.
When weak, taking care of yourself is hard to do
But somehow, you have to find the strength within you.
They are happy in their new life.
Why be miserable, angry, or be in misery and strife?
I could start by exercising and eating right.
I tried to walk a little farther each night.
Even though before I started, I was filled with dread.
It gave me time to clear my head.
One small accomplishment each day
Made me feel better along the way.
I needed a life I could enjoy.
Not knowing what I like would annoy
I created a bucket list
With the help of friends and coworkers who’d assist.
I listed material things I wanted to buy.
I listed new activities I wanted to try.
Listed places around the world I’d like to be,
Museums, plays, concerts, and other things to see
As I explored and looked on the internet, my list grew.
As I removed some, I would add something new.
At first, I was full of negative emotions.
I would just be going through the motions.
With old and new friends, I’d have fun.
Before long, my happy and new life had begun.
From Love and Heartache Moments: Healing Poems After Divorce and Breakups
Part of the Life Moments Series
© 2025 Deborah Ann Martin. All rights reserved.
Reflection on Surviving and Starting Over
If you're feeling like everything in your life just fell apart — you're not alone. This poem is my real story. Maybe yours looks different, but I bet you’ve felt the pain of loss, the fog of confusion, and the deep, aching question: What now?
Here’s what I learned:
You don’t need to have all the answers right away.
You don’t need to explain your pain to anyone.
You do need to start somewhere.
It’s okay to break.
It’s okay to grieve.
It’s okay to pause.
But you can still move forward. Even if it's just one breath… one step… one walk around the block.
That’s still progress.
That’s still picking yourself up.
You can get there too. Pick yourself up — even if it’s slow. Your new life is waiting.
The Style Behind the Words
Poetry Style Name: Reflective Narrative Poem
Structure and Form: 17 stanzas of quatrains (4-line stanzas), clear storytelling structure
Tone: Vulnerable, resilient, uplifting
Poetic Devices:
Progressive structure: from emotional collapse to personal empowerment
Internal rhyme and soft rhythm: gives pacing that mimics emotional waves
Imagery of movement, lists, and memory: mirrors mental and physical transformation
Theme: Rebuilding, healing, self-discovery, emotional reset
Explore More Love and Heartache Moments
Pick Me Up Poem is just one of many poems in Love and Heartache Moments: Healing Poems After Divorce and Breakups.
It’s a journey from devastation to rediscovery — and you're invited to walk with me through every poem.
About the Life Moments Series
This poem is part of my Life Moments Series, which explores the beauty, heartbreak, and growth we experience in everyday life.
Each book in the series captures different themes — love, heartbreak, parenting, joy, childhood, and more.
You can read more poetry or explore all of my books
References
Love and Heartache Moments: Healing Poems After Divorce and Breakups, Deborah Ann Martin, 2025.
Deborah Ann Martin Amazon Author Central Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/deborahamartin
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