down this rabbit hole I run
lost in the muted colors of the sun
haunted by a past that came undone
the future lies unopened before me
a present wrapped in pretty bows
inside the box waits
unknown stories of fate
destiny was denied
rebuilt again with leftovers
anger builds to be left alone
a hand slips away taking with it dreams of youth
to start again is now so real
to feel again beside the pain
letting go of the suitcase of dreams
two worlds clamor for my attention
one in front, one from behind
both screaming at the top of their lungs
two lives; one completely undone, one only begun
lost within feelings I can’t put away
what to do, what to say
happiness is a lonely road
walking away from the known
letting go it makes me sad putting it behind
for better things lie ahead
even if the eyes can’t see
what is around the next bend
trusting in unspoken promises
a future of dreams sleep fitfully
sometime soon but for now I smile
for I know I will see you again
~M ©2013
This poem was written for Free Write Friday from the image prompt at the top of the page and the following words, “Ever want to just run away? Feel overwhelmed with the chaos of this ride we call life? We are all bound by something or someone and it’s time we let go. It’s time we fly and get out of bed, hit the road, make that change, walk away…whatever it is that will break our chains and remember what freedom feels like. And Free Write Friday is a great place to start.
Free Writing is using what is called stream of consciousness writing, no editing, no proofing just writing! Please check out Kellie Elmore’s official site or click on the Free Write Friday Image for more information. Post your submission with a comment and link to your blog on Kellie’s blog, post on twitter with the hashtag #FWF, Facebook and join the fun!
“two worlds clamor for my attention
one in front, one from behind
both screaming at the top of their lungs
two lives; one completely undone, one only begun”
This really resonates with me. I have those same feelings for completely different reasons. My heart is with you! ~C
Yep! 🙂
Great poem – really compelling. I like the line ‘happiness is a lonely road’. I walk that road too. It can be lonely sometimes but then it is happy and loneliness so often becomes simply being alone and I dig it.
Suzanne, thank you! Sounds like introversion? I know there is a definite difference between being alone and being lonely. They are not the same and I like being alone too!
You got it. Moving away from a near past to a future you are not sure that you can or want to trust knowing full well that there could be another heartbreak.
Isn’t that life, no guarantees? So make it the best we can with what we have, thanks for stopping and commenting!
I liked the statement about the future…”a box wrapped in pretty bows.” We always anticipate the future, but never know what to expect. Well done. The emotions are well captured.
Yes, the future we hope for the best but sometimes… well you know. Thanks for the comment!
Thank you! Yes, the future is simply that? We wonder and hope for what it might bring and deal with whatever we are left with.
Wow! Great write, Mark! Full of emotion and overflowing with awesome lines. My favorite: “rebuilt again with leftovers”. Man! I can relate to that one!
Thanks Charles! Sometimes all you are left with is to rebuild, time and time again. But there is hope and there is faith, in that I simply rest even on my worst days.
Simply awesome, Mark … depicting the constant struggle to balance lessons from our past with hopes for our future; and how it is impossible to achieve the latter without addressing the former. To allow ourselves not to be swallowed up by the pain of what was is part of the challenge. You have described this masterfully. Well done! … Dorothy 🙂
Dorothy, thank you! This one is very personal stemming from the biggest loss of my life. But I continue to rebuild and move forward, albeit slowly sometimes but continuing to believe there is a promise to be fulfilled. Thanks again for the nice comments, I am flattered.
“to start again is now so real
to feel again beside the pain”
This is so… I’m speechless. Very inspiring.
Thank you so much! This one is personal and that is where our best writing and emotion comes from. Thanks for the very kind words.
Your welcome. 🙂
Wow I relate to this. Funny, I am such an OPEN book in regards to how I share on my blog but I can’t even venure to share just how profound this poem is to my world.
Thank you Diane! Your words penned on your blog move me also. Thank you for your kind words.
Mark, you got inside my head with this one. You have no idea. I don’t even have a response to this as I am entranced here. I am re-reading this over and over. It’s my thoughts, my feelings.
Kellie, thank you I am humbled by your words. I aspire to share my thoughts and writings with others as you have done and am touched that in some small way I can reach people right where they are. This one was personal as I mentioned, I have lived these feelings and thoughts, over and over.
It is difficult to be real and honest allowing the world to truly see us in all of our strength and weakness. But I am realizing the truth of a recent quote I posted ‘everybody comes from somewhere and has a story, we need to listen to others and make our own worth telling.’ Vulnerability sometimes has unknown and wonderful rewards! God Bless!
That one moment when your life is so completely altered that when you look back and remember that is the point of reference. “It was before this,” or “It was after this.” And to move forward from that point is so hard because nothing is ever the same. Sometimes it is good…sometimes not. All we can do is keep moving. Lovely.
That’s the truth! Thanks Heidi!
Compelling! I hope the “unspoken promises” show for you soon x
Thank you Christy!
I missed this one earlier, Mark. This is great!