Trust Poem– Learning to Trust Again After Being Hurt
Rebuilding Trust Starts Within Yourself
Trust is one of the hardest things to rebuild after you have been hurt. Even after forgiveness, there is still that hesitation. That voice in your head that asks if it could happen again. I have felt that. This trust poem comes from the place where I realized that trusting others again starts with trusting myself first.
When your heart has been broken, fear does not just disappear. It shows up in small ways. You question intentions. You second guess actions. You wonder if you are missing something that could hurt you later. That fear is real, and it can stop you from opening up again.
What I learned is that trust is not something you just give all at once. It is something you build. It takes time, awareness, and honesty. Not just with others, but with yourself. When you learn to trust your own judgment, your own boundaries, and your own strength, everything starts to shift.
That is where real trust begins.
Trust Poem
Trust is hard to give
Even when you forgive.
When rejected and crushed
Fear comes in with a rush.
It hurts to give your heart away
And then find yourself alone one day.
How do you trust and not make the same mistake?
How do you trust someone not to make your heartache?
Before I trust others, I have to trust me.
I work toward who I want to be.
I have to look at myself with honesty.
I have to work toward a normal sanity.
Brene’ Brown: Boundaries, Reliability, Accountability,
Vault, Integrity, Non-judgment, and Generosity
I have to accept myself as a flawed and imperfect being.
When I fall and pick myself up, this becomes freeing.
One small moment at a time to trust is all I’ve got
To learn to see if people can be trusted or not.
I want to be around those who encourage me
And constructive criticism is to help me be the best I can be.
Remembering that others have flaws and feelings
Sometimes forgiveness is part of my dealings.
Their actions are necessarily related to mine.
Sometimes I feel it is because we are intertwined.
When good boundaries are set in place,
Then the feelings of trust I can start to embrace.
Sharing, being open and honest
This is how trust becomes the strongest
No more victim mentality
To slowly learn to trust means a positive reality.
Allowing time to heal the past
This is the final step to trusting at last.
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 My Trust Poem
This poem came from a place of trying to understand how to trust again after being hurt. Trust does not come back quickly. Even when you forgive someone, that fear can still be there. You remember what it felt like to be hurt, and you do not want to go through that again.
I had to learn that trust is not about ignoring that fear. It is about working through it.
One of the biggest lessons for me was realizing that I needed to trust myself before I could fully trust someone else. I had to believe that I could see the signs, set boundaries, and walk away if something did not feel right. That changed everything. Instead of feeling like I was at risk, I started to feel more in control.
I also learned that trust is built over time. It is not something that happens in one moment. It comes from consistency, honesty, and actions that match words. It is built in small steps, not big promises.
Including Brene Brown’s work in this poem was important to me. Her framework helped me understand what trust really looks like. It is not just a feeling. It is built on clear behaviors like boundaries, accountability, and honesty. When those are present, trust can grow.
Another important part of this journey was letting go of the victim mindset. That does not mean ignoring what happened. It means not allowing it to control your future. It means choosing to move forward with strength instead of staying stuck in the past.
This poem shows that trust is not about being perfect or finding perfect people. It is about learning, growing, setting boundaries, and giving yourself the chance to experience something better.
If you are struggling with trust, take it one step at a time. You do not have to rush. You just have to keep moving forward.
The Style Behind the Words
Poetry Style Name: Reflective Narrative Poetry with elements of Confessional and Didactic Poetry
Structure and Form: Multi-stanza free verse poem with quatrain-like groupings that follows a clear emotional and psychological progression from hurt and distrust to self-reflection, boundary-setting, and gradual rebuilding of trust. The poem blends personal narrative with instructional elements, including a direct reference to a trust framework, while using repetition and rhyme to unify the message.
Tone: Honest, vulnerable, reflective, and ultimately empowering
Poetic Devices:
Meter: Short to medium lines with a steady, conversational rhythm that mirrors natural thought patterns
Rhyme and Rhyme Scheme: Rhyming couplets with consistent end rhyme that reinforces flow and cohesion (examples: give / forgive, away / day, me / be, place / embrace, last / at last)
Sound and Rhythm: Smooth and rhythmic with a spoken-word quality, allowing the emotional progression to feel grounded and sincere
Imagery: Emotional imagery of hurt, rejection, and healing and the words “Give your heart away” and “crushed” evoke vulnerability and emotional pain
Storytelling: Clear narrative arc moving from broken trust → self-reflection → learning frameworks → gradual rebuilding → acceptance and growth
Repetition: Repeated use of “trust” reinforces the central theme and emotional focus
Internal Monologue: Strong presence of self-talk, showing inner questioning, doubt, and evolving self-awareness
Rhetorical Questions: “How do you trust…” reflects real internal questioning
Contrast: Fear and distrust versus growth and trust and Victim mentality versus empowerment and accountability
Metaphor: “Give your heart away” symbolizes vulnerability; “Crushed” represents emotional devastation and the word “Boundaries” act as protection and structure for healthy relationships
Alliteration: Subtle use in phrases like “fear…rush” and “flawed and imperfect”
Tone Shift: Moves from pain and fear to self-awareness, then to empowerment and cautious optimism
Symbolism: “Heart” = emotional vulnerability and love, “Boundaries” = self-respect and protection and “Trust” = both internal confidence and external connection
Allusion: Healing, reference to Brené Brown through the BRAVING framework (Boundaries, Reliability, Accountability, Vault, Integrity, Non-judgment, Generosity) Theme: Rebuilding trust through self-awareness, personal responsibility, boundaries, and emotional growth
Reading Level: 6th–8th grade, accessible language with layered emotional insight
Explore More Love and Heartache Moments
If this poem speaks to you, there are many more in Love and Heartache Moments. This book explores trust, healing, relationships, and learning to move forward after being hurt.
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
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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
About the Author:
Deborah Ann Martin is the founder of Surviving Life Lessons, a published author, poet, speaker, and trainer with over 20 years of management experience across multiple industries. An MBA graduate, U.S. veteran, single mother, and rare cancer survivor, Deborah brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her writing on resilience, leadership, personal growth, and overcoming adversity. Her mission is to empower others with practical wisdom and real-life insight to navigate life’s challenges with strength and purpose.
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