Liliana Kohann's poems stand out in the world of poetry due to their unique combination of simplicity and psychological sophistication. One of the distinguishing features of Kohann's poetry is her creative approach to self-mastery. Instead of presenting abstract or didactic lessons, she weaves narratives and metaphors that encourage readers to reflect on their own experiences and personal growth. Through her words, she provides a refreshing perspective on self-improvement, making it a more engaging and accessible to a wider audience. The HEALING quality of Liliana's poems is another distinguishing feature. Her verses possess a remarkable depth of emotion, coupled with a sense of wisdom that resonates with readers on a deeper level. While addressing profound aspects of the human experience, Kohann infuses her work with a touch of humor, creating a well-rounded emotional experience for her readers. In addition to the written word, Liliana enhances the impact of her poetry through whimsical illustrations that cleverly reflect the messages conveyed in each poem.
If Dr. Seuss and Carl Jung wrote a poem together, that would be Liliana's poetry.
If you plan to use Liliana's work publicly, please write to [email protected]. Below is a sample of some of her poetry. You can find many more of her poems in her books, and in my online literary journal, The Healing Poems, or in her Youtube Channel under playlist, The Healing Poems.
If Dr. Seuss and Carl Jung wrote a poem together, that would be Liliana's poetry.
If you plan to use Liliana's work publicly, please write to [email protected]. Below is a sample of some of her poetry. You can find many more of her poems in her books, and in my online literary journal, The Healing Poems, or in her Youtube Channel under playlist, The Healing Poems.
MY UNIQUENESS
It’s not my weakness,
it is my openness.
It’s not my doubts,
it is my questioning mind.
It’s not that I say too much,
it’s my courage to share.
It’s not my fear,
it’s my prudence.
It’s not my stupidity,
it’s my choice of what I
want to know.
It’s not my credulity,
it is my trust.
It’s not my depression,
it is my acceptance.
It’s not my recklessness,
it is my curiosity,
and love of life.
It’s not my chaos,
it’s my artistic soul.
It’s not my weakness,
it is my
UNIQUENESS.
©Artpeace Publishing 2001
To see this poem's video on YouTube, with music by Thomas Kohann, click HERE.
My Uniqueness can be found in my book, A Thin Book of 'Fat' Poems; A Poetic Journey to Ultimate Health and Happiness.
it is my openness.
It’s not my doubts,
it is my questioning mind.
It’s not that I say too much,
it’s my courage to share.
It’s not my fear,
it’s my prudence.
It’s not my stupidity,
it’s my choice of what I
want to know.
It’s not my credulity,
it is my trust.
It’s not my depression,
it is my acceptance.
It’s not my recklessness,
it is my curiosity,
and love of life.
It’s not my chaos,
it’s my artistic soul.
It’s not my weakness,
it is my
UNIQUENESS.
©Artpeace Publishing 2001
To see this poem's video on YouTube, with music by Thomas Kohann, click HERE.
My Uniqueness can be found in my book, A Thin Book of 'Fat' Poems; A Poetic Journey to Ultimate Health and Happiness.
THE FIRST WORD ON COURAGE
I’ve written many poems
but not a single one
mentions the word “courage,”
and that’s because I have none.
I do what I am told
by guilt and by fear
which are so very loud
that my voice - I can’t hear!
©2002 Artpeace Publishing
but not a single one
mentions the word “courage,”
and that’s because I have none.
I do what I am told
by guilt and by fear
which are so very loud
that my voice - I can’t hear!
©2002 Artpeace Publishing
NO LONGER ROOM FOR STONES
I cannot really change how tall I am,
but I can change how tall I stand.
I cannot really change how old I am,
but I can change how young I feel.
I cannot really change how well I see
but I can change how well I learn.
I cannot really change the color of my skin
or the sound of my voice,
but I can change the colors of my expressions.
I cannot really change my bone structure,
but I can change the structure of my thoughts.
I cannot really change the coldness I received,
but I can change the warmth with which I give.
I cannot really change my sensitive nature,
and God knows I’ve tried,
but I can change the nature of my environment:
No longer room for stones,
but soil fertile and soft,
Where flowers like me can grow.
Where we can cherish it all.
Where all our gifts can glow.
Where we all can become the heroes
that we were meant to be.
©2015 Artpeace Publishing
but I can change how tall I stand.
I cannot really change how old I am,
but I can change how young I feel.
I cannot really change how well I see
but I can change how well I learn.
I cannot really change the color of my skin
or the sound of my voice,
but I can change the colors of my expressions.
I cannot really change my bone structure,
but I can change the structure of my thoughts.
I cannot really change the coldness I received,
but I can change the warmth with which I give.
I cannot really change my sensitive nature,
and God knows I’ve tried,
but I can change the nature of my environment:
No longer room for stones,
but soil fertile and soft,
Where flowers like me can grow.
Where we can cherish it all.
Where all our gifts can glow.
Where we all can become the heroes
that we were meant to be.
©2015 Artpeace Publishing
***To read the Spanish version, translated by Nashville Metro Police, Domestic Violence Division, click HERE.
MY SUPPER AND THREE DESSERTS
|
My supper and 3 desserts I just ate. And ate, and ate. And now I am ready to plan how to lose all this weight. And I better do it fast, before I get hungry again. Cause, you see, when Hunger comes It may also eat my plan! |
This poem and drawing are from my book, A Thin Book of 'Fat' Poems; A Poetic Journey to Ultimate Health and Happiness.
SIMPLY FREE
|
For me I want to be
free For them I want to be one of them for her I want to be a hero for him I want to be stress-free for all of them I want to be everyone but me But for me I want to be simply FREE. —from A Thin Book of 'Fat' Poems ©Artpeace Publishing 2001 |
ALMIGHTY GUT FEELING
|
Almighty Gut feeling, how great Thou are! Too bad I so ignore Thee, my destination star. You speak so very clearly. You want the best for me. Too bad that I ignore Thee, and don’t believe in Thee. Almighty Gut feeling, the best gift that I’ve got. Wrapped up in Love and Freedom, directly sent from GOD. ©2003 Artpeace Publishing |
|
I ADDED ONE MORE PERSON
My purpose is and always was the same:
to serve Humanity.
And even though I consider
that purpose
the most fulfilling,
after many years,
I started feeling
I was missing something.
My purpose is still the same.
However, I added something.
I added
one more person
to that list of Humanity.
The person
who somehow
seemed invisible to me before,
unimportant,
who consequently
was ignored
during my missions.
Now I added me
to the list of Humanity,
as an equal.
And somehow,
even though I added
one more person
to those I serve,
my work load seemed
to lighten up quite a bit.
It’s a sense of peace,
a sense of fairness,
a sense of absolute fulfillment,
a sense of real,
global unity,
at last.
©2002 Artpeace Publishing
***The poem above helped me return fully to my passion. Somewhere in my journey of life, I was taught that I should not waste my time on writing poetry or music, and that I was not good enough, which eventually became my own belief. As life went on, I proudly raised my children, created a business, and served those who were struggling. Yet, with time, I started feeling the sense that something was missing. I started feeling that the child who did not believe that she was worthy, was being left out of the "circle of humanity". Creating this poem was a process of adding myself to the circle of those whom I loved, served, and felt compassion for. I was learning to embrace the neglected, the forgotten, the little me.
FROM THE JOURNAL OF A
COMPETITIVE DIETER
|
My friends want to know why when I’m on a diet
I feel so fulfilled and great. So here I am revealing my SECRET, what I do when I want to lose weight. I absolutely refuse to be like others who failed before. One diet is not good enough for me I’ve got to do better and MORE! I go on THREE diets at the same time and I eat them together like that: one high in carbs, second high in protein and the third one high in fat. ©Artpeace Publishing 2003 |
|
Poem and drawing from A Thin Book of 'Fat' Poems; A Poetic and Humorous Journey from Self-Sabotage to Self-Love & Freedom
To watch on YouTube, click HERE.
To watch on YouTube, click HERE.
WHAT LOVE IS NOT
When he looks into your eyes
he doesn’t see you.
He sees a reflection
of unmet expectation.
When he talks to you,
he’s only telling
lies designed
for his protection.
When he listens to you
he doesn’t hear you
he hears his own
critical voice.
And when he asks
for your opinion,
don’t bother answering,
he’s made a choice.
And when he tells you
how much he loves you
yet takes away
all that you’ve got,
just look at him,
but please, see only
a perfect picture
of what love is not.
©Artpeace Publishing 2003
he doesn’t see you.
He sees a reflection
of unmet expectation.
When he talks to you,
he’s only telling
lies designed
for his protection.
When he listens to you
he doesn’t hear you
he hears his own
critical voice.
And when he asks
for your opinion,
don’t bother answering,
he’s made a choice.
And when he tells you
how much he loves you
yet takes away
all that you’ve got,
just look at him,
but please, see only
a perfect picture
of what love is not.
©Artpeace Publishing 2003
COMPASSION
I know YOU maybe suffering now.
I see you curled up by the wall,
And the best thing I CAN do now,
Is to FEEL your tears with my soul.
©Artpeace Publishing 2015
I see you curled up by the wall,
And the best thing I CAN do now,
Is to FEEL your tears with my soul.
©Artpeace Publishing 2015
ONLY FROM HERE
|
There was no room for me
On the sunny meadow So I bowed my head down And moved… To the shadow. And I stood there watching How others rejoice Feeling poignant sorrow, No hope and No choice. Yet, it’s only from here, From this dreary sight, From this deep, deep darkness That I saw The Light. ©2005 Artpeace Publishing To watch or share on YouTube, click HERE. |
|
***I have always believed that there is goodness in everybody. No matter how bad the person appears to be, my love and faith can dig that goodness out of them. Yet, what I have learned recently... the hardest lesson for me in my life... is that some people, even those who are closest to you, may be cut from a different cloth. The love I feel is not what they feel. The compassion I know is not what they know. The respect for others I carry in my heart is not what they carry. My desire to remove burdens from my loved ones and from the people around me is not their desire. As a matter of fact, they may use that desire to benefit themselves. The realization of that lesson ached beyond my words...
Sometimes we must go to the darkest place and scariest place, to really understand...
It is from this DOWN feeling, and from giving myself the permission to sit in that darkness that I wrote this UPLIFTING poem.
Sometimes we must go to the darkest place and scariest place, to really understand...
It is from this DOWN feeling, and from giving myself the permission to sit in that darkness that I wrote this UPLIFTING poem.
SUDDENLY IT'S THEN
|
For you, it’s a minor set back,
a problem, a small mistake. But for me, it is a disaster, terror, a burden I can’t take. You say not to worry. You tell me what to do. But I’m paralyzed by fear, and I can’t hear you. It was just a small bang. Intellectually I know, but I hear its ringing everywhere I go. You tell me to move forward, to forgive and forget. I know, but I’m busy defending the invisible threats. And I want to run away, hide and disappear. The strong person I am is no longer here. Curled up in the corner, caught up in a trap like a wounded soldier, too weak to get up. For you, it is here and now, but for me, suddenly it’s THEN. For you, a minor accident, for me… WAR, all over again. ©Artpeace Publishing 2023 (March 5th, 4AM) |
I dedicate this poem to all who struggle with PTSD and to ALL who fought for our freedom. |
The Story Behind This Poem
From my journal, March 5th, 2023
A spaced out lady drove into my car in the parking lot. She admitted to all of us that she was not looking ahead, as she was checking out sheds on her right side. She seemed honest and was apologetic. It was not fatal accident, thank God! Yet, the bang of her car crashing into mine, triggered something within me. It was as if my body disconnected from me. Even though I had a fracture and I was in pain, it didn't feel like it was in my body. I was thrilled that nobody died, yet something felt like death. It took me a long time to realize that I was experiencing the tragic events during Martial Law in Poland.
A spaced out lady drove into my car in the parking lot. She admitted to all of us that she was not looking ahead, as she was checking out sheds on her right side. She seemed honest and was apologetic. It was not fatal accident, thank God! Yet, the bang of her car crashing into mine, triggered something within me. It was as if my body disconnected from me. Even though I had a fracture and I was in pain, it didn't feel like it was in my body. I was thrilled that nobody died, yet something felt like death. It took me a long time to realize that I was experiencing the tragic events during Martial Law in Poland.
ADDICTION
Addiction is a terrible thing.
It makes your own integrity shrink.
In fact it makes it so very small
That you believe it's not there at all.
Addiction is a toxic friend.
It knocks you down, then gives you its hand.
It pulls you up, and when you begin
To walk, it knocks you down again.
Addiction is a vicious thing.
It makes you believe that you are a king.
And just when you begin to rule
It laughs at you. "A king?! A fool!"
Addiction is a nasty leech.
It drinks your blood, your source of life.
But though a leech leaves when it gets full,
Addiction stays until you die.
©2000 Artpeace Publishing
Poem and drawing from: A Thin Book of 'Fat' Poems; A Poetic and Humorous Journey from Self-Sabotage to Self-Love & Freedom
To see YouTube video with this poem recited by Joe Brennan, click HERE.
It makes your own integrity shrink.
In fact it makes it so very small
That you believe it's not there at all.
Addiction is a toxic friend.
It knocks you down, then gives you its hand.
It pulls you up, and when you begin
To walk, it knocks you down again.
Addiction is a vicious thing.
It makes you believe that you are a king.
And just when you begin to rule
It laughs at you. "A king?! A fool!"
Addiction is a nasty leech.
It drinks your blood, your source of life.
But though a leech leaves when it gets full,
Addiction stays until you die.
©2000 Artpeace Publishing
Poem and drawing from: A Thin Book of 'Fat' Poems; A Poetic and Humorous Journey from Self-Sabotage to Self-Love & Freedom
To see YouTube video with this poem recited by Joe Brennan, click HERE.
IN THE ARM OF THE LOVER
In the arms of a lover
to float, to float
To kiss, to discover
a lot, a lot
The freedom of friendship
caress, caress
The words to express it
possess, possess
Careless, spontaneous
to be, to be
The eyes so in love
to see, to see
©2003 Artpeace Publishing
to float, to float
To kiss, to discover
a lot, a lot
The freedom of friendship
caress, caress
The words to express it
possess, possess
Careless, spontaneous
to be, to be
The eyes so in love
to see, to see
©2003 Artpeace Publishing
WHAT A FEAR
|
What a fear has overtaken me now
A fear bigger than my heart It is so present here That its heartbeat I hear Its presence takes over Everything around, My world, my dreams, And I... can’t be found I disappear In the face of fear And I don’t know why I can’t look into its eye Maybe I sense death... Or maybe I fear That once fear is gone I... would have to appear. ©2001 Artpeace Publishing |
|
I SUCCEEDED
They say one must believe to succeed
but if it’s true, how is it that
I didn’t believe I would gain weight
but I succeeded - I’m fat!
©2001 Artpeace Publishing
Poem and drawing from: A Thin Book of 'Fat' Poems; A Poetic and Humorous Journey from Self-Sabotage to Self-Love & Freedom
but if it’s true, how is it that
I didn’t believe I would gain weight
but I succeeded - I’m fat!
©2001 Artpeace Publishing
Poem and drawing from: A Thin Book of 'Fat' Poems; A Poetic and Humorous Journey from Self-Sabotage to Self-Love & Freedom
I do not claim to be a great poet. I am only a good listener to others,
and I finally have learned to listen to and laugh with myself. I have learned to dive into my own shadow, and I am learning not to be frightened by my own light. Hopefully, my healing poems can remove some burdens, inspire positive changes, and bring joy to my readers and listeners.
— Liliana Kohann
and I finally have learned to listen to and laugh with myself. I have learned to dive into my own shadow, and I am learning not to be frightened by my own light. Hopefully, my healing poems can remove some burdens, inspire positive changes, and bring joy to my readers and listeners.
— Liliana Kohann
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