You Cannot Go Back

you cannot go back
but you can start again
from your bleeding edge

with arms outstretched
past all your mistakes

past all that you've lost

past all of your hatreds

past all of your anger

to find all of yourself

you can never go back
but you may start again

you may right your wrongs
at anytime

from anyplace

for any reason

dead or alive

you may start again
that is not farfetched

you cannot go back
but you can build again
from your mistakes
to find hope again

you need not go back
to find yourself again

in a better place

to make a better world

it is not too late

to begin again

as a better son

or a better daughter 

as a better friend

or a better lover

it is not too late

to make a better place

for a better world

Author's Note

Reviews

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

The first three lines of this powerful and inspirational poem are brilliant and riveting-“you cannot go back..but you can start again..from your bleeding edge”. The remainder of the poem is a beautiful free-verse , unpunctuated narrative, eloquently guiding us forward toward redemption. Dramatic and impactful use of repetition for emphasis of key tenets. Direct, raw, - there is no doubt that this is told from the poet’s own struggles “to begin again”. Excellent, moving, memorable write. It is one to save and read often. Thank you.

[Davidgeo]

Damn... I think that review was more well written than then what it was reviewing. Thank YOU. If it inspired anything positive in you that means more to me than anything you could say. Seriously, thank you, that review made me feel quite nice.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

You are most deservedly welcome. Your poem and poignant picture truly resonated with me. From my own struggles, I too have learned the truths you so masterfully speak of. Well-penned my friend.

[H L Rose]

“You cannot go back/
But you can start again”

I love this sentiment and how you expand and carry it throughout. Reminds me of the breathtaking beauty of forgiveness. And I mean breathtaking. I was able to keep it together throughout the entire Hamilton soundtrack until that song by Eliza about forgiveness. I lost it there.

I enjoyed the read!

[Chris Shaw]

Much wisdom in your words here. A great message, it's never too late to put things right if you believe you have made mistakes. And which of us haven't? I enjoyed the repetition, it added emphasis. Good write. I am reminded of "Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life". Don't know who said it, but there is wisdom in those words too.

Chris

[Davidgeo]

I basically ripped this off from "tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life". I really don't know who said that originally either. I've heard so many times... mostly at AA meetings; but no one has ever mentioned where it comes from. I know that there's a song from the '70's called that but I highly doubt they made it up. I'm gonna actually do some research on this... I'll let you know what turns up.

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

David i have lost count of all the mistkes i have made in nearly 60 yes years 60 in january i still feel 24 at heart
I cannot undo the mistakes i have made but i have rid myself of my guilt by confessing them (my sins) and receiving forgiveness from Jesus.
No i am not preaching no I am not a churchgoer at all
but the forgiveness has released me to go on and live my life
i still regret things i do and have done(wont go into detail) but what is left is a memory a faded negative memory of the things that I did that were wrong now and not a polaroid photograph of the wrongs that i carried in my heart every day of my life.
good poem by the way

[Davidgeo]

There is a fundamental truth to the philosophy of religion. You don't need to believe in Jesus to find goodness there. The problems I have with religion lie in the organized details and the "morality" that projects. The spirit is real, if only because belief influences actions that are incredibly real.... for good or ill. If your heart is good what you carry in it will be true.

[Julie McCarthy (juliespenhere)]

yes I don't go to church though did as a teen and young child
I just believe im forgiven and can move fwd from my past that is the great thing
I no longer carry the burden of guilt though do regret

[Davidgeo]

Regret is unavoidable, the past always remains. But forgiveness is up to you... don't let anybody tell you different. Guilt is voluntary. (unless you're a Nazi or something objectively horrible like that... those cats get no quarter from me)

[Julie McCarthy (juliespenhere)]

yes there is some truth there

[Davidgeo]

And it's important we share that no matter how we disagree over the details. Which is something that sounds way easier than it actually is. Over internet poetry is easy, over real life is pretty f*****g difficult.

[Julie McCarthy (juliespenhere)]

yes I agree
ok

[Davidgeo]

Pray for me and I'll 'pray' for you.

[Julie McCarthy (juliespenhere)]

ok cool i will
thanks

[KWP]

so so true. My friend is now over 100 hundred days sober from all things altering the mind. For her to get this point has been a long journey and I have been with her all the way - the highs have been through the roof and the lows, well, I am tough, but when I see her lows I know her fortitude will always win the day... but the message here in your poem was something I was always trying to impress upon her, problem is, even though she knew I was right, she was not ready, she had to do it herself. And amazingly she did - got sober all on her own, from drugs and all, even after she tried the clinic, she did it solo, bloody amazing. Saying that, she has many more steps to wade through, her childhood not the best, but out of all the people who surround me in daily life, when I look at her and see what she has already been through, and she is still here. She is the one who impresses me the most - her tenacity for survival against all the odds is f*****g amazing.

[Davidgeo]

That you could relate that experience to this poem is the highest praise I could hope for. Some people are made of steel underneath all of their bullshit, your friend is one of those people... and those people are rare and completely amazing.

[Vivian Gospel]

We need to be better human beings before being better at anything.

[Davidgeo]

I certainly can agree with that. Thanks for reading.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and I think our experiences help us do this, to start again.
Interesting to read this poem tonight after a very close friend and I had a conversation earlier. She asked me if I could go back would I change anything about my life.
I said no....Not all good experiences at all...but always learning and always a chance to improve based on those experiences.
j.

[Davidgeo]

Indeed. I ask myself that sometimes as well and come to the same conclusion. The mistakes, tragedies and blunders have as much to do with my current happiness as any of the positive outcomes along the way. My failures make my successes meaningful. If only for the sake of variety. Besides, I see life as a game... and games aren't any fun if you can dictate and/or perfectly predict the outcome. Learning what losing is is how we eventually recognize what winning means.