worn-out clothes

somewhat a poem.

I outfitted my worn-out clothes

Then in the far mirror, I see myself

I look behind the old me

Look past the mask he wears,

Staring…  

 

After what seems like a few seconds,

I finally asked him;

 

“Have I neglected you?”

 

He didn’t answer…

A single tear fell in his left eye

And then I understood…

 

“I am sorry, I let you stay behind

masked for too long

muffled you for quite some time.

We all know society is cruel place to be.

We need to be strong & I needed to be stronger.

It was for our sake.

But then it was just me being a coward

    - afraid to face reality.

 

Now look at us, we’re both crying for the decisions

we made long ago. It was not your fault,

I’m to blame with all of this crap.

I made you do it, I convinced you with my

Fears. And I am truly sorry.”

 

I break down into sobs. He simply hugs me, not saying anything.

Then he fades away.

 

I dried away the tears I shed

And found something, a feeling,

I never knew he gave,

I found forgiveness.

I was able to forgive myself

From the things I did.

To stay past the past mistake,

To face the new, kinda old me…

 

Then I realized;

It is important to forgive yourself

To be able to move forward.

Author's Note

taken from the depths of my mind. Still raw. its still a poem right?


thank you for reading me.

Reviews

[Blood Ink Diary]

And, this poem speaks across spaces - the oscillation between raw and ripe emotions beautifully manifested. Thoroughly relished the sensitive examination of the depth of your mind.

You asked if this is "still a poem" -- let's say your mind is an excellent, that is the best validity, my friend. Cheers Pax.

[Pryde Foltz]

Then I realized;
It is important to forgive yourself
To be able to move forward.

A great piece of healing.

[Pax]

Thank you so much, Pryce. Its a pleasure to see you visit.

[Corset]

it's still a poem, and it's perfect prose, I so love this one Paxie! I love it because I could so easily hold the vision inside my head doing the same with myself , we all need this introspection sometimes, a little forgiveness for the choices we had to make. just wonderful!

[Pax]

hugs, missed you dear friend, thank you so much... I am glad you can relate to it, and we all needed this for us to move forward... hope all is well there... :)

[An owl on the moon]

It is a most powerful, introspective poem that speaks to the heart and the world around us. Thank you so much for sharing...

[Pax]

Thank you so much, my good friend.... its always good to see you, and how you can relate to this piece, it is enough for me to go on writing. I am grateful!

[Sami Khalil]

Our personal demons reside in the depths of our psyche, shedding skins and thoughts. In breaking down the tears that roll off into the abyss of reality, we leave behind cruel places. The mirror can not understand our true reflections when light or darkness are the essence for we use inanimate objects to see our animations...In seeking answers to our dilemmas, we must let go of some suffocating emotions and concentrate on building the spirit of self or others' forgiveness to lift the immense weight and move forward toward solutions. Your worn-out clothes are still wearable in a certain state but not others. Excellent my dear friend.

[Pax]

"In seeking answers to our dilemmas, we must let go of some suffocating emotions and concentrate on building the spirit of self or others forgiveness to lift the immense weight and move forward toward solutions."
-- ahh, dear brother, thank you so much, you say such poetic tone in this review, so rich with wisdom and spiritual value. Love how you deliver your reflection, its beautiful and uplifting.

indeed it is still wearable, for now in the mean time... someday I know the new begginning will arise in the dawn of sunrise :)

bless you dear friend and brother...

[Sami Khalil]

Wow. So glad you like it. You are welcome dear brother...:)...............

[asdarkeyesclose]

'Now look at us, we’re both crying for the decisions

We’ve made long ago.'

powerful, emotional, highly moving. forgiving yourself is only the first step to learning self-love and it is only when we truly love ourselves that we can learn to truly share love with other people. (but there is a thin line between understanding your true worth and arrogance). i enjoyed your poem immensely. your observational skills are becoming more and more refined. fantastic.

[Pax]

I'm in awe, my friend, I can't thank you enough for your kind review and presence... it is always so good to see you, you understand me so well.

"forgiving yourself is only the first step to learning self-love and it is only when we truly love ourselves that we can learn to truly share love with other people"

~ its the golden lesson I am always to remind myself, I so appreciate you sharing your thoughts my friend.

[Baby Ricochet]

It's a poem. The depths is the best place to find them and yes, the hardest person to forgive is often yourself

[Pax]

now I know it is still a poem, and yes, that is so true, I finally able understand about forgiveness that i've read in so many sayings & quotes... Thank you my friend, for shining me your wisdom and presence.

[John]

The conclusion sounds just right coming as it does as a result of close self scrutiny. Given its psychological benefits, forgiveness of oneself and others is always the right way forward.

[Pax]

it is, indeed, thank you so much, sir John...

[Not Your Typical New Yo..]

I really like the concept here, Pax. I like the idea of "old clothes" is actually old skin, and the man in the mirror is nothing but a ghost of one self. It's a brilliant piece.

[Pax]

nice one, my friend, I glad you see that one, worn-out colds is also a metaphor in this piece, somehow an oldskin I kept on wearing. Ahh, yes he is, the ghost atleast one of many... Thank you so much my friend, I so appreciate your take on this piece.

[gabrielle]

Before forgiveness, I think that acknowledging or identifying the problem is the first step to move forward. In this piece, you presented so well the self confronting some emotional issues. I can well relate- we love to procrastinate.:) When we wear our “mask” for so long, there will come a time that we could no longer differentiate our what is real anymore. Is the man on the mirror just a thing of the past for the man standing before it has already evolved into someone else?

[Pax]

man in the mirror, I remember the famous song... now that I realized it the theme is somewhat the same yet the problem is not, I think.. this is more of my personal demons... if you can diagnose me, you can probably tell I have personality disorder, LOL, but in thinking, deep within I see different parts of me, all wearing mask, all are me, well that's just how I percieved the many sides of me... but all are connected to the one standing in front of the mirror. The one who forgives me, or the part of me I forgive is just one of them. I didn't evolve, grown to understand the different parts of me, slowly, & surely... thank you so much Gab, pwde ka ng maging psych doc ko.lol, again I so appreciate your view on this.

[Pax]

pahabol na edit: . "I didn't evolve, but grown to understand."

[gabrielle]

welcome pax.. :) :) :)

[Coyote Poetry]

Yes it is a poem.
"I realized;
It is important to forgive yourself
To be able to move forward"
The hardest forgiveness is for the deeds we did wrong. But we must. The above lines had reason and purpose because of the strong statements in your poem. Thank you for sharing your amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Pax]

thank you so much my friend, its great to see you, I am glad you can relate to it, I so appreciate it.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome. Always a pleasure to read your poetry and thoughts.