You Know Not What You Have Until It's Gone

If you can boast to having eyes to see,

And if to having minds to get the clue,

You would know all you have shall ever be

A special treasure very dear to you.

It may at first not wholly seem that way,

As some of such may bring about your hate.

But all those treasures never go astray

Until neglect or harm should change their fate.

Thus keep an eye on all that you possess-

What heartens you, and what torments you so;

All those with whom you fight and you caress,

And all those things whose values seem so low.

For know the truth that’s seldom come upon:

You know not what you have until it’s gone.

-EDP

Reviews

[Kathy Van Kurin]

"You Know not what You Have Until It's Gone"
emipoemi,
"You would know all you have shall ever be
A special treasure very dear to you."
Does a person recognize the soul jewel we carry?
It is our very personality and very being.
"What heartens you, and what torments you so;
All those with whom you fight and you caress,
And all those things whose values seem so low,"
Our inner being is the foundation which all things, experiences, pain and lessons builds its layers.
This poem gave me a great opportunity to ponder and dwell with thankfullness this life.
I truly enjoyed your own personal poem of life.
Blessings,
Kathy

[Jessica Lima]

Ah... yes. Lessons in life. The wise pay attention, the fool shrugs them off.

[William Liston]

A wonderful sonnet.
I sense an influence of William Blake in your writing. Like many of his works, your poetry has a profound simplicity to it. You rely not only on a good message, but on the actual "poeticness" of it, as evidenced by your excellent skill in meter and rhyme. Brilliant work!

- William Liston

[emipoemi]

Though I've heard of Blake, I can't say I've read much of him apart from Tyger Tyger, so it's interesting how you detect such an influence. I've been known to insert into my work "influences" and "references" of things I haven't even heard/read yet, so I would definitely give Blake more of a read to see how accurate your hunch actually is. This poem, like all I have posted so far pertain to my early phase, where the Romantics are the major influence. In time, it would become clear that an evolution had taken place (keep a keen eye for the cutoff).

Thanks for commenting! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[Raven Moonchild]

(applauds) This poem rings with such truth!! :D Many underestimate the value of what they have until it's harmed or gone.

[emipoemi]

and it was about time someone tells them :)

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

This is so very poignant and true and gives one pause for thought. Well done!

[emipoemi]

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it.