Letting Go | Teen Ink
  1. Home
  2. Poetry
  3. Free Verse
  4. Letting Go

Letting Go

August 23, 2011
By Cantrella PLATINUM, Kamuela, Hawaii
More by this author
Cantrella PLATINUM, Kamuela, Hawaii
31 articles 1 photo 18 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot; Backward, turn backward<br /> oh time in your flight,<br /> make me a child again,<br /> just for tonight.&quot; E.A. Allen

View profile

I sometimes wish,
I could take my memories,
and put them in a jar,
Stir them in with a bit of thought,
and dreams,
Watch them swirl in all their colors and hues.
Seeing
the happy memories rise to the surface
dancing at the top
and catching glimpses
of times when I laughed
or saw a sunrise
or met a new friend.
Then look at the middle
With the everyday memories,
Boredom in math class,
Waiting in the doctor's office,
Or cleaning my room.
Then seeing the heavy darkness
That writhes on the bottom of the jar,
All my failures,
Miseries,
Guilts,
Mistakes
Glaring at me from the murky depths,
Reminding me of my flaws.
If only I could just leave them in the bottom of the jar.
Hide them on a shelf to gather dust.
Rather then have to keep them in me.

© Kennedy C., Rockdale, TX

The author's comments:
It hard to look back at my mistakes and realize I have to live with them for the rest of my life. But at least I can learn from them and try harder next time.
Post a comment
Submit your own

Similar Articles

Previous Next
Poetry
Noise
By Anonymous
Poetry
My New Beginning
By delaney95 GOLD
St. Charles, Missouri
delaney95 GOLD, St. Charles, Missouri
11 articles 5 photos 5 comments
View profile
Poetry
The Unraveling Scarf
By kiwi12 PLATINUM
Austin, Texas
kiwi12 PLATINUM, Austin, Texas
28 articles 10 photos 365 comments
View profile
Poetry
Do It Now!
By Lost-In-Life GOLD
Whitby, Other
Lost-In-Life GOLD, Whitby, Other
11 articles 0 photos 299 comments

Favorite Quote:
It&#039;s never to late, if it weren&#039;t for the last minute many things would never get done!

View profile
Poetry
The Backyard
By CarlyG GOLD
Emmaus, Pennsylvania
CarlyG GOLD, Emmaus, Pennsylvania
10 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do.&quot; H. Jackson Brown Jr.

View profile
Poetry
Cracked vase
By Dale CROUCH PLATINUM
JOPLIN, Missouri
Dale CROUCH PLATINUM, JOPLIN, Missouri
29 articles 9 photos 0 comments
View profile

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 9 comments.

Cantrella PLATINUM said...
on Sep. 24 2011 at 4:51 pm
Cantrella PLATINUM, Kamuela, Hawaii
31 articles 1 photo 18 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot; Backward, turn backward<br /> oh time in your flight,<br /> make me a child again,<br /> just for tonight.&quot; E.A. Allen

View profile
Thank you. These comments really mean a lot to me.
HurtByLife SILVER said...
on Sep. 8 2011 at 1:48 pm
HurtByLife SILVER, Valdosta, Georgia
6 articles 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
I&#039;m not what I have done I&#039;m what I&#039;ve overcome.

View profile
this iz Truley amazing and it relly has me thinking about my past and current...beautifuly written.
afterglow SILVER said...
on Sep. 7 2011 at 7:55 pm
afterglow SILVER, Griffith, Indiana
8 articles 0 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;When you see a mountain do you see a challenge, or a change of heart?&quot;- me, 2010

View profile
This is pretty good. Often i wish i could do the same and just forget about them as a way to deal. Its a nice place when we are able to stop dwelling on the past.
gnox2 SILVER said...
on Sep. 7 2011 at 12:33 am
gnox2 SILVER, Surrey, Other
5 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.&rdquo; &ndash;Henry David Thoreau

View profile
I really loved this poem. I can completely relate and it was beautiful! Great job :)
megglemsm97 said...
on Sep. 5 2011 at 1:23 pm
megglemsm97, Middlesex, New Jersey
0 articles 10 photos 29 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Never let the fear of striking out, keep you from playing the game.&quot;

View profile
Absolutelyy Loveeee this!!!! So relateable!!!!! Great Job:)
x0x0xJ SILVER said...
on Sep. 3 2011 at 10:00 pm
x0x0xJ SILVER, Wood Dale, Illinois
7 articles 0 photos 63 comments

Favorite Quote:
Sometimes the thoughts in my head get bored and go for a stroll out through my mouth. This is rarely a good thing.

View profile
Omg I love this, wish I could do the same!
collegegirladventures GOLD said...
on Sep. 3 2011 at 9:06 pm
collegegirladventures GOLD, Mequon, Wisconsin
10 articles 8 photos 307 comments

Favorite Quote:
A poet&#039;s work is to name the unnameable, to point at frauds, to take sides, start arguments, shape the world, and stop it going to sleep.<br /> <br /> ~Salman Rushdie

View profile
Wow!! i often feel like this too, and im glad there is at least one person who understands this feeling, too. Thx for writing this.   0:)
Cantrella PLATINUM said...
on Sep. 2 2011 at 11:44 pm
Cantrella PLATINUM, Kamuela, Hawaii
31 articles 1 photo 18 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot; Backward, turn backward<br /> oh time in your flight,<br /> make me a child again,<br /> just for tonight.&quot; E.A. Allen

View profile
You're welcome. I'm glad some can relate
penelope said...
on Sep. 2 2011 at 11:13 pm
This is how I feel ... Thank you Cantrella for finding my jar, too.