Our Mistakes

We come to terms with our mistakes

to strive, to try, then fail, to win

Seeing what bitter food it makes

tasting the tempting fruits of sin

 

Looking back along the past

succeeding through our strain

Makes us value life at last

with its unending strife and pain

 

Who once failed, find triumph sweet

where once stumbled, cry beware

To the other unaccustomed feet

victory comes to those who dare

 

Are we but images made of God

his work in labored progress

Made from the dust and the sod

our one sheer moment of happiness

 

What strife encumbers, the soul awakes

learning the errors, of our troubled route

Through sorrows, of our sad mistakes

come truths, we could not live without

 

Author's Note

We face them every day, and sleep with them every night. Our character is defined by how we deal with our mistakes! For those of us who learn best the hard way this is both bittersweet and true

Reviews

[Allan Eddings]

As always a lovely piece that is both thought provoking, honest, and simply beautiful. Truly I am most envious! While reading this piece with its lovely - and when speaking of your writing characteristic - lyrical nature that seems to beg one to sing it; I was moved to think of the oldest complete piece of music we have found, the Seikilos epitaph. The lyrics when translated from the original Greek read approximately (this is my own translation, so please be cautious, ha!):

While you live, shine, don't suffer anything at all; life exists only a short while and time demands its toll.

The music that accompanies it is quite beautiful I would recommend seeking it out. Back to point. I could not help but feel repeated here the theme of pain, pleasure, suffering and joy which seems to be an eternal question and inspiration to men and women throughout time. It gave me a lovely sense of belonging.

My own ramblings aside, bravo as always, and again thank you.
A.E.

[Ashley Lytle]

I absolutely loved this poem. It was very thought provoking. Your word choice is extremely exceptional and it flowed very nicely. You choose some words that really stand out and bring meaning to your poem. I found it to be a great representation of a motivational piece. Reading it I felt like it was saying that you just become better with every mistake. Just because you make one doesn't define you. It's how you grow and learn that matters. A mistake is not an end. It's a chance to learn and to grow.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Ashley you have correctly defined the purpose and message of this work. I can tell you it is the mistakes that form our character and make us better people

[Ashley Lytle]

You're welcome. I completely agree with the message this poem shares.

[Tate Morgan]

thank you so much

[Einstein Noodle]

love the lesson in this Tate! the strife, pain and failures all can bring us a sweet acceptance ... such a funny irony the strengths we hold ..both physical and emotional and of the mind ... (the heart holds 5 backup plans to keep beating;) but we are so very frail at the same time ... its that same frailty that turns us to the Spiritual ... something i dare say we would not do otherwise .. took me 3X's reading to finally get these lines ;)
"where once stumbled, cry beware
To the other unaccustomed feet"
then i'm like ...duh! :)
fine grass roots and dusty road music ..
thanks for sharing Tate!
E.

[Tate Morgan]

Yes! Yes! "Hope springs eterna"l as does the immortal soul! Oh I so loved this review!!!

[Einstein Noodle]

pleasure to read your poems Tate .. never a disappointment

[Jerome F Knox III pseud..]

Another thought provoking piece with crafty rhyme scheme and a simple message.

[Tate Morgan]

Hi RICO Thank you it is a simple idea yet a truth

[Jerome F Knox III pseudonym Nefarious J. Dorsey]

Truth is always simple human beings make it complex by over analysing it....

[Tate Morgan]

i so agree rico thank you

[melissa]

Awesome poem keep up the great work

[Tate Morgan]

I like this one too glad you do

[melissa]

You're welcome

[nancy.sedky]

i really like it Tate, i don't know how to deal with my mistakes....what is right? to let go and move on..or remember them always !!!! i hate sins...and i can't tolerate thinking about them...i end up shaking my head to get it off my thoughts...thank you tate for having such delicate soul that speaks out on behalf of us :)

[Tate Morgan]

The thing about mistakes or as some think of them sins is that they tug at our conscience. It is ok that you can't forget them.That because the next time you will be swayed away from them by the memory of the pain they caused first time round .Dont be so hard on yourself. you arent alone in this you know we all have them.

[minisla]

A lifetime of learning. Enjoyed this thoroughly.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Minisla I appreciate that

[外人 (Gaiji..]

This poem links so well with your poem "young love", the same concepts stand out from different situations, same flow of thoughts, we could say we can catch your poetics from these verses. These are the verses of a wise man and an expert poet (but i admit, my judgement goes over style and reach personal preferences: I love your frequent use of quatrains and even more, the way you use them collecting one micro-concept in every stanza; i can relate to this technique since i try to do the same in my poetry)

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you yes i do that I try to capture a single concept in each quatrian that when put together tell a tale and answer a question about our existance.;.The idea is to impart a feeling an emotion to another that i felt in remembering the times I slipped and fell in life.

[外人 (Gaijin)]

that's exactly what I try to do ! Easy to understand why i love your poems, i can relate so easily with their style

[Tate Morgan]

I thank you I try to make them as simple as possible and use few metaphors simply relating an event or thought

[Harmony Babin]

I love it!!! And like you said, bittersweet and true. Couldn't be described any other way.

[Tate Morgan]

thank you i am going to die of old age before i wise up

[Mockingbird]

sometimes we're too blind to learn from our mistakes and we have to live with our choices. excellent examination of our consciences.

[Tate Morgan]

i am one of those who never learn

[s y e]

We learn from the mistakes we, ourselves, make. We don't listen to our parents when they try to give us advice... no, we ask, then do the opposite, aha. Lovely write Tate.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank u noodle