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.

[Vivian Gospel]

Mantra of shantaram. This is the needed watchword of this gen.

[Davidgeo]

That's a pretty spectacular reference. I like your style.

[Vivian Gospel]

He is spectacular. His life and writing style.

[KWP]

I wonder how many people stop and actually evaluate their actions to move forward ... and then I broke out in Oasis - I never liked Oasis - but still I keep singing ...

[Davidgeo]

I don't like Oasis very much either... the front man tries too hard to be John Lennon. But that one song is pretty nice.

[Mavericks]

Forgiveness is a trait of the strong ones. Loved the message in this one. Keep up the good work. One love!

[Davidgeo]

Indeed it is. Forgiveness I mean... to mean it unselfishly is not an easy thing.

[AYVID N]

Interestingly, I've been working on letting go, for some time now. Especially the hurt generated by those we once looked up to. I found it to be a very rewarding exercise. Found my haven.

Thanks for this insightful piece.

[Davidgeo]

Disappointment in our idols and the one's we loved is a pretty awful f*****g feeling. It's easy to lose your way after that. Finding your way back is almost impossible when we hold on to the baggage of those dead relationships. But we must never act in haste in those moments... sometimes dead things come back to life. Hope isn't always a futile sentiment.

(sometimes it really, really is though)

[AYVID N]

Sometimes its best to burn bridges, especially if there is a level of toxicity yet its great if we let the negativity pass and retain the positive that came out of it. Hope then is just another means of pulling oneself together on bad days. I don't really think what is broken can ever be mended.

[Davidgeo]

I can agree with that sentiment for the most part.
Every situation must be evaluated individually. As much as I'd like it to be true, there just isn't one solution or approach that fits every situation. The human mind is too complicated and individually variable for straightforward universal solutions to problems of that nature. Some people suck and offer no hope of improvement or reconciliation. I think the best anyone can do is honestly strive to NOT be one of those people.

[AYVID N]

Indeed...that kind is the most hopeless of all...

[John the Baptist]

Clearly worded and great philosophy in this one. You do need to correct several words that are spelled as possessives which should be plurals (without the apostrophes).

[Davidgeo]

You are so right... I usually don't botch things like that. Thanks for that. I owe you a soda.