Terry Haugh

Costa Mesa, CA, USA

Terry began writing poetry 7 years ago when a ‘Well-Spring’ began to emerge in him which resulted in two 70 poem collections about growing up with a forgotten childhood—Journey Home and Leaving Home. Terry is an accomplished construction superintendent, who is active at church, has a heart for people, loves all outdoor and water sports, and enjoys singing and playing his guitar.
Happily married, he has 4 grown children who each inspired some of his poetry. Recently, his works have received Editor's Choice Awards in several anthologies including: Across the Universe, and Treasured Poems of America (1996). He says, "Much of my poetry emerged as a result of my own emotional journey "home," which is often the birthplace of our pain. "Growing Up" and the role that unmet childhood needs play in shapes our adult destinies and behavior patterns; these are themes that run through all of my work."

Leaving Home

Rationally . . . we are
Always wanting
to ‘leave’ home.
Emotionally . . . we are
Always re-creating
What it felt like to ‘be’ home.
Internally . . . we are
Often in conflict and confusion,
As today's circumstance
Becomes a window.......
on yesterday's pain.

By Design

Designed to grow
And not be stuck,
In childhood pain
That robs so much,

Designed to run
Both free and far,
Outstripping hurts
And wounds that scar.

Designed to heal!
Re-Solve this pain,
Transform’d to Love
That never ends.

Designed to know
Ourselves and Him,
In truth and love
Down here, my friend.

Designed to live
And never die,
In earth our home
After we've cried.

Designed to rise
To reach the sky,
Embracing Him
Who dwells on high.

11th Commandment

‘You shall not hate . . . Yourself’
A written law in heaven,
Is seldom written in our hearts
when as children, we are driven....
By shame and fear, and words that tear
small hearts, to shreds and ribbons.

You shall not not hate . . . Yourself
T’ is poison on the soul,
Brings destruction like a whirlwind
and darkness, thick and cold,
It saps our strength for living
keeps us from being whole!

You shall not hate . . . Yourself
the thought many deny,
Yet we treat ourselves so poorly
hiding from family lies.... and
How foreign are the nurturing words
heard from our own insides.

You shall not hate . . . Yourself
no matter what's been done,
This Pattern must be broken
before the battle's won,
Self-care . . . the right beginning
Feels so wrong when first begun,
And learning to love ourselves, my friend,
can be a long and painful fun!