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Poetry

Original poems by Dara Berger

Upcoming Publication

Featured in The Rotunda — Coming October 2026

Dara Berger's work will be featured in The Rotunda, a new anthology by the Sag Harbor Writers Circle — a collection of poetry and essays from local writers on the East End of Long Island, inspired by the beautiful landscapes that surround them.

Bravery

I see bravery every day

It's the reflection in your eyes

Emanates right through me

Each and every time


Sometimes I have to look away

Just to catch my breath

I don't know how you stay

Your soul exudes so much depth

Each and every day


Cuts like a knife

Deep in my heart

Making the best of this life

It's been so much pain right from the start


You handle each moment with grace

Cannot fathom how you pull it off

Wearing such a happy face

It's hard to imagine what you thought

All those years gone by at such a fast pace

We can resolve in how much we fought

To arrive at this better place

No longer distraught


Still takes so much to get through

Our job is not finished

So many things to experience that are new

We won't be diminished


I am here along with you for the entire race

Finishing together

By your side it's victory I can taste

Watching over supporting you forever

By Dara Berger

Silent Years

All those silent years

I don't know how you did it

But you persevered

I'm not sure I could have done it

Without constantly shedding tears


You are so brave

Of hero quality

So strong

Getting through it all

What happened to you was so wrong

Sometime I don't know what goes on behind your poker face

You had adversity for so long

I wish I could have taken your place


It's time for you to open up

Share the happiness and pain

You don't have to be alone

Show your feelings and no longer feign

There is no more pretending that everything is alright

Give up the facade

Don't lose sight

Give in and share each part of you

Don't make me fight

Open yourself up

It's time to live your life


Too much time has been wasted

You have given up so much

Life is so Tender

With so much to touch

Celebrate each moment

It's never enough

Take what is yours

Don't give it up

Let yourself soar

By Dara Berger

New Breath

When I think back

That was the moment

I could breathe again

The veil was lifted

And the cloud had passed

Oh it wasn't an easy time

Life got lighter

And my authentic self shined through

It felt like the calm before the storm

Only the storm had already passed

It was a storm that always waged in my life

Savaging every waking breath

Persistent through each moment

I could see it smoldering in the background

That winter it finally cleared

And even though my life still had stormy moments

They were different

Happenstance

Not forced

Like the ones that had kept a chokehold on me since childhood

They were the only two gifts from you

The gift of life

And then the end of yours

That allowed me to live

Like it was the first time

By Dara Berger

Dara Berger

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