Don't Look Back In Anger

let go of your hatreds
never look back in anger

forgive all the world, forget all the pains
but remember, every one of their names
and learn,

from every single mistake

to let go of your hatreds
to grow unabashed

without judgment,

into a better person

from what you are today

into a better world

before you leave tomorrow

Author's Note

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, before we leave, how much of the ledger of love and hate might we even up.
This poem reminds me a bit of Langston Hughes' "Cross"---which is less about bitterness and more about trying to forgive...and feeling regret for the anger once felt.
j.

[Davidgeo]

You have a good eye for this whole poetry thing. 'cross' is one of my favorite poems. It didn't inspire this directly, at least not consciously, but I could see how you'd think that. There is a angle of social consciousness I just cannot honestly replicate the way Hughes inherently could given his time and situation. Ha... now I feel a little self conscious about this particular piece. The term 'cryptomnesia' keeps running through my head.

[R. Schreiber]

Perfectly written. We must learn to forgive and forget in order to grow in ourselves. Don't spread the same hatred people gave you as retaliation. Move on. Keep going. Keep growing. The more we can change that evil within ourselves the more influence we may have on the rest of the worlds evil. The more the world can grow as well.

[Davidgeo]

That's high praise... thanks for that.

I wish I could follow my own advice in this poem sometimes.

[Anu Soneye]

I must say that this is really didactic. Learning to let go; to forgive. I think everyone needs to learn that.

[Cas]

corruption with ones inner evil has taken over, sadly. it’s a shame people look in anger to hurt others. sometimes people need to step back and think about the person that choice would make them. great write. i live by forgive and forget, give and let go.

[Gaurav]

That's what should be the universal motto..to keep walking and leaving behind corruption of mind and bodies..anger is when one is not able to forgive self..so forgiving self is more important

[Chris Shaw]

Forgiveness. You can forgive without having to forget, but that doesn't come easy to many. I might forgive small things but if someone was to really hurt me by inflicting pain and suffering on my loved ones, I ask myself what I would do then. I don't think I would turn the other cheek. I would be out for revenge. And on my death bed, would I forgive them then? Thought provoking.

Chris

[Davidgeo]

There are few feelings more natural than revenge. But we live in an unnatural world these days. Temperance is a more valuable virtue... but remembrance is still inescapably relevant. If only to drive you toward something. Myself I tend to remember everything. Sometimes it keeps me up at night, other times it drives me to become a better version of myself, and other times the very worst version of myself. Revenge in the context of modern civilization is a very strange thing. Occasionally dangerous, occasionally motivating, occasionally self defeating.

[Davidgeo]

Oh and thanks for the review... it made me think a bit more than I would have otherwise.

[Sneh]

Forgiving relieves the self and selfless pain indeed! (New rays)
Good recommendation to blow out the s**t. :)
Sneh

[Davidgeo]

Ha... that gave me a chuckle. Thanks for that. And I'm glad you liked this one. It's not really my best writings, but the concept is one of my favorites.

[H L Rose]

I really like this for both the sentiment and how it’s written. Forgiveness is one of the most beautiful things to me.

The second stanza is my favorite. I hate the phrase “forgive and forget” and to me this stanza seems to contradict this phrase well.

I’ve really enjoyed reading this!

[Davidgeo]

Thanks ginger face.

There was another stanza that reinforced the second one but it didn't really fit. It's all about the second stanza with this one.

The rest was just kinda filler.

[H L Rose]

Of course! That second stanza really does stand out.

[Davidgeo]

The Henry Rollins clip at the end about cynicism is really the best thing about this poem. I used to love him for punk rock/metal reasons now I love him even more for his uniquely reasoned take on life. Screw the poem... focus on Henry's take on cynicism.

[Davidgeo]

(oasis is mostly crap but that one song is pretty awesome)

[H L Rose]

It’s a good song and yea that point of view is cool. I like when people mention an extreme (like his example about racism towards muslims) in order to point out a flaw that doesn’t seem as obvious (painting all of humanity with a broad brush).

However I do believe all of humanity is majorly flawed, but since I don’t believe we were made to suck and since I have hope that everything won’t always suck, I can still look at the world positively and look at each individual as they are.

[Davidgeo]

The 'suck' is always going to be there. It's completely unavoidable, life exists because of death. But we get to choose how we deal with the "suck"... and part of being an enlightened species is finding a way to exist without excessive death. it's easy to be a pessimist but it's incredibly rewarding to be an optimist. People like you give me hope. It's way harder to be you than is to be me... and it will only get harder as you get older. But if you keep your disposition you will be part of what makes this place a better world than it was yesterday. Do whatever you can to keep on keeping on as you are... we need you. Desperately.

[H L Rose]

I appreciate that. I’m glad my outlook is one that suggests hope! But there’s a time for everything. The cynical can be needed too.

[Ally Ann]

I think one of the best things you can do for yourself is to allow yourself to move on from damaging situations. Many people see that as giving up or as weak, but in the end I think taking care of yourself and letting go is strong. Letting go of that hatred, like you said, is so important. One of my favorite quotes is, "the best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury" and this poem embodies that. Thanks for sharing!

[Davidgeo]

The best revenge is to find a way to be above revenge.

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

I like this David and have read a few of your comments below and yes i can see a change in your reviews and just in you in general over the last month or so esp since we had our little word on line fight on line. all that is in the past and am glad we moved on for the good road. I am not perfect by any means far from it if you knew me and we all have our faults and personality thingos. Me im a bit of a loner a bit anti social. I like your poems and have some on my read requests but havent had much time to read all of them yet i run comps and every weekend am reviewing them lol

[Davidgeo]

I think our differences here came from our similarities in personality out there. I will never not be a 'loner' and I will always be a little anti social... but I've discovered that I don't necessarily have to be venomous or confrontational on my way. In fact, I've discovered that being venomous and confrontational does nothing but hold all of us back. A strong and guarded ego is for p*****s (I think).

[Davidgeo]

And thanks for the kind words... you have no reason to be anything but vicious toward me. Your comments are very generous given our past interactions. Thanks for that.

[Julie McCarthy (juliespenhere)]

no worries glad we moved fwd

[Relic]

Every word is true, especially "forgive all the world." How many people have destroyed others because they were mad at the world? Well done, D. Lots of wisdom here.

[Davidgeo]

Thank you Tim. You know very well how much of an a*****e I used to take pleasure in being around here... the only reason I don't regret that recent past of mine is because it lead to me to certain self realizations in a very honest way, instead of superficially. Too many people just put the mask on but underneath are still d*********s or a******s. (i'm still probably a d********g but far less of an a*****e... and I wear that openly - being a good person, or a bad person... those labels matter less to me now than just being a decent person, open and looking honestly.)

[Relic]

Well said, my friend. :)