Admiration within the smile
as you allow it to grow.
All the way from the mile
getting the light to show.
Bouncing around
due to past endeavors.
Finally finding you in the sound
now that I have passed each of the levers.
Chills head their way down
along with the fears.
Never a need to frown
only taking a few years.
You’re brighter than you would believe
just wait to see what you will achieve.
Lexi, it is important that we all take a step back and see how far we have come, especially on the bad days. We are far removed from who we were as children, but we can still appreciate the beauty of finding ourselves as adults. Thank you for sharing your story!
Growing up I always wanted to be fearless,
Whatever life throws at me I got this.
Kinda careless.
Carried a aditude where people thought I was wild,
It never bothered me though because for whatever reason they still loved my style.
Ya, but life switched up in me some,
the things I been through has me feeling kinda numb.
I never knew what it was like to loose…
Win some, loose some and it’s because of what we pick and choose.
Thinking as if I’m smarter then all the rest,
I put that thought down real quick as I learned it’s all part of God’s test.
Teaching me what I know and what I don’t,
What my next step should be and how to do it, V.S how I wont!
I dont got it figured out not in the slightest bit,
But for being so headstrong as I was,
I guess I get what I get.
Cause when life gets hard,
it can get worse.
It’s a out how you live your life,
not who finishes first.
Cause when life gets real,
it shows you what you have.
When you make the wrong decision or don’t appreciate it,
Then it becomes something you had.
When I was younger I wanted yo be fearless.
Now I’m grown up,
And I see that was me being wreckless.
Now I have 4 kids and I raise them all alone.
I can’t talk to thier dad because heaven doesn’t have a phone.
The struggle is real and I’m not even done yet.
I tried to move on and now here I am again alone and pregnant.
5 beautiful kids and the pressure is now all on me,
To guide them and teach them not to be fearless but how beautiful and yet how bitter life can be.
To love and appreciate all who’s there,
Not to try to be better then the next person but instead to care.
Teach them love and devotion.
That our choices pan out our life in a never ending motion.
There is no rewinds re-dos or mistakes.
When God gives us a life it’s up to us not to be fearless,
but make the best of it,
No matter what it takes.
I WROTE THIS WHILE I WAA PREGNANT WITH MY LAST BABY WHO WAS BORN
10-13-23.
Amberlynn, your story is such an inspiration to me! The fact that you raise five children alone is incredible. Being fearless and careless are qualities many of us have as children, but once we find ourselves taking care of others we see that it simply isn’t an option. Thank you for sharing your story!
Love yourself child no one else can do that for you. Dry those tears and hide all those emotions don’t let them devour your spirit. Put on a smile every day even when you don’t feel it. Create your reality it’s you who has to live in it. Create your own joy. Remind yourself of the beautiful creation you have. That smart little boy.
Who will love you if not yourself? Self-love is more important because you gotta pick up yourself. Love yourself, child. Doesn’t matter if the man who helped create life didn’t God blessed you with someone else That loves you as if you were his. Love yourself. The reason why the father of your son couldn’t stay is because he didn’t love himself. How could he possibly love another human being how could he ever care if he ain’t love himself? No pity parties can remain here child.
Love yourself. Demons can only reside where there is no hope when no love is there. So rise child and love yourself. Day by day speak life speak affirmations speak self-victory speak it daily. Every flaw in the mirror reflects a reminder that no one else can be you. You gotta love yourself. You gotta see you for you. The most powerful thing is someone who recognizes self.
Who loves every imperfection and can use pain as a redirection in the direction of a blessing itself. Dry their tears and leave self-pity. We all have our unspoken fears. If no one has told you I see you. I see your determination. I see your potential. I see your beauty. I empathize with your pain. I was always there holding the umbrella shielding you from the rain.
I was always there embracing you on those days when no one knew you were battling with ya brain. I am the nights and the sunny skies. I am your thunderstorms but I’m also the place where rainbows reside. I am your screams and I am your silence. I am your patience your anger and your kindness and all your frustrations. I am you. You are me. The you no one else can see. I am you and you are me. Love yourself, child. And when you’re ready to be great come find me. I am Az’aina. I am who you refer to as Z. Love yourself, child. In love is where we will meet. Love yourself, child. Come find me.
Azaina, this is a beautiful letter to your younger self. As we grow older, we often forget the things that made us who we are. Your words show that you not only remember the best parts of you, but that you are still working on loving yourself better. I am inspired by your words. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much !!! I like to keep the imperfections in my poems lol. I don’t necessarily want it so polished I feel like sometimes it’s more authentic . I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed it 🖤
Hey little girl
How are you doing today?
Did you have a good day at school?
Did you go outside and play?
I hope you had your time to escape
From the anger and chaos within the walls
Of the apartment on that second floor
Where dingy carpet lines the eerily long halls
You often weren’t aware of how bad it was
Not in the younger years that is
Because you watched all your friends in their own struggles
You were more worried about her pain and his
You were good at removing yourself from the suffering
You were always able to see the good and humor in things
Sometimes that humor could be looked at as dark
But it helped get through the bitter words and stings
You were so observant and smart
Too grown up for your young age
You could sense when things were off
Even when they tried to keep you in your cage
You knew that life wasn’t normal
Even if it seemed better than others you saw
You started your plans on how you would free yourself
And looking back at your diligence, I admire in awe
You got to work as soon as you could
Working multiple jobs and saving away
You knew the environment you grew up in
Was not where you were destined to stay
You planned and you prayed
Staying both focused and hopeful
You trusted your gut when others had doubt
And along the way, you found someone very special
A partner, a lover; someone who loved you for you
You both fell so hard and so fast
You knew deep in your heart, that he was the one
And even at such a young age, you knew it would last
You have always followed your intuition
You listened to the knowing within your soul
I am so proud and happy for you, sweet child
For you both took on and released control
You knew what was within your power
You are the reason I am here today, happy and healing
You did everything you could to build your ideal life
One full of peaceful, lovely feelings
You are so strong and resilient
Even today, you reside within my heart and bones
Together, we get to live our favorite lives
And we get to create a happy, healthy home
Thank you for your empathetic nature
Thank you for your strength and determination
Thank you for your playfulness and sensitivities
Thank you for your love and admiration
Thank you for your open mind
Thank you for your appreciation of the little things
Thank you for showing me the beautiful parts of life
Thank you for showing me what trusting myself brings
Jena, I love how you thank your younger self for all her best parts. I can tell that you still have these qualities yourself. Through the struggles, you were able to find your happiness and love yourself. This is truly inspiring. Thank you for sharing your story!
It’s time to let go of the shield that protected you for so long. A warrior of light has arrived, with a face familiar like your father’s strength and your mother’s love. This warrior has come to rescue you from the tower of shadows, to carry you into the light and heal your wounds.
You’re free to go home, dear one. The light warrior has grown strong enough to guide you back to your true self. Trust in their love and let them lead you out of the forest of your dreams.
You’re not alone, dear Dark Princess. Your inner warrior has been waiting for this moment, ready to embrace you and bring you home. Let go of the darkness and surrender to the light.
You are loved, you are healed, and you are free.
With boundless love and light,
The Warrior of Your Heart
Marigold, I love how you write about rescuing your younger self from the trials she must have endured. Your strength and resilience are obvious to me. We often lose ourselves as we get older, but you seem to have found your way back to your childhood self. Thank you for sharing!
WHAT I LIKED MOST ABOUT MY YOUNGER SELF
Dear Unsealed,
A I look back in time
Of reason & rhyme,
I liked my persistence
Of whom I was in existence
Of time & space
In the rat race
Of life & dreams.
But it seems
I had to go through many changes,
In different decades of stepping into the light
Out of darkness to learn to rearrange,
Various aspects of learning to live
As an empath,
And not even knowing about what path
Was that?
My younger self grew up with my grandpa Boss
Until I was five years old.
After that he passed of a massive heart attack
So many years back
In time
Of reason & rhyme
I have been told,
Grandpa Boss was a writer & sculpturer
Of many lost works now.
He taught me to read & write from birth to age 3
When he was alive.
He called me the apple of his eye.
I would read his books of poetry
Of mostly religious beliefs of his mindset at that time
In my life of reason & rhyme
We would sit on the back porch
& we would talk for hours about how to carry the torch
Of art & creativity & beyond
To express feelings of joy, love, God & life
As I was so incredibly young.
I remember his trips to New York City to publish
His poetry of life, God & love.
I would rush
Into the living room to welcome
Grandpa Boss home from his long trip
From so far away across to the east coast &
away from me & Grandma Carrie Soleta.
My two favorite people,
Grandpa Boss taught me love the written word,
To express my feelings and sip
From the creative cup of cornucopia of life
As a writer of sorts &
Of course, my Grandma Carrie Soleta was a teacher,
Of creative words and the history of humanity.
She loved to sit with me on the piano bench,
As I played music of different chords
& style of religious, blues, rock, country
ETC.
My youthful days are reminisced by clouds and sunshine of that reality as a young child from birth until three years old when my grandpa passed. My grandma continued to nurture me in rhythm, reason & rhyme.
I realize that between my grandparents and my parents I am thankful for those human beings in the time of decades of my life.
At three I was young, naïve, carefree.
When my grandpa passed, I saw a huge dark cloud
Over my head as mom explained to me Boss was dead
In the flesh
But alive in the spirit in the clouds
Of heaven.
I remember my grandpa as a creative, kind person.
I was sad for a while as a little child.
But soon the sun would shine above the clouds of grief,
Of sadness and pain.
What was to remain,
Is this prose of mine
In this decade of my life
To remind me of the two
People who gave me joy & creative endeavors
Of reason, rhyme, & music, history
And to grieve through my music and books and art
Of everyday existence of all my decades
Of life as it fades
Into being old.
I used to respect my grandparents,
As they were my elders and so I was told,
They were wise and watching over me as I dream
And walk through my last decades
Writing & artistic creativity
To say to my peeps,
“Thank you, Grandpa Boss and Grandma Carrie Soleta,
For teaching me the ins & outs of my fate
To realize it is not too late
To continue with chapter 74 of my life,
To continue as I will soon be seventy-five.
Thank you my BFFS for always being there.
Vicki, this poem beautifully honors the strength and drive of your grandparents. They must have been quite wonderful to hold such a special place in your heart. I love how you describe your experiences of sitting on the porch talking and playing the piano with them. Thank you for sharing such vivid memories.
Little superhero, little me
Your so beautiful beyond what the eyes can see
Your smile, your style
Your warm personality
Your independence even as a small child
Is more than enough to drive your parents wild
I love who you are now
I love who you will be
I love that your who you are
Natural and free with a silly personality
Your amazing talents, your grace
Unaware somewhere you make someone else’s heart smile
Just by showing your pretty face
It may feel lonely at times
It may feel like your misunderstood
But I promise, all the wonderful things that you are
Someone else only wished they had could
Have your same courage and confidence
You’re wise beyond your years
That alone is gift
And as you get older, you’ll feel that little shift
That shift is knowing and embracing just how different you are
While others where born to be like the sun and moon
You were created to be a star
Your ability to love others more or as you love yourself
Being there for others even if all you have is yourself
Your heart is so pure, so be bold
Be the warmth, the light in a room that’s dark and cold
So rejoice in your individuality
Because you are a rare flower
Embrace being different from all the others
Because that is your superpower
This poem is such an inspirational tribute to who you were as a child. The way you love your younger self is beautiful and pure. Though we all feel inadequate from time to time, the support and grace you give yourself is empowering. It is no wonder you are a superhero! Thank you for sharing.
Necia, I absolutely love this poem. Grit really is one of the greatest traits to have in this world. Anyone can be smart or funny, but only special people have the resilience to grow stronger with each hurdle life throws at them. Thank you for sharing such an inspirational piece.
Thank you for reading, Emmy, and I’m glad you felt a connection to my words. I’ve spoken with many older people and it seems to me that those who survive this life do so with sheer will (and maybe a bit of luck and good genetics). 😉
I love this poem! The last line, “Until one day,” inspires me. In those words, you capture how we grow as humans until one day we are able to finally see our true souls. Thank you for sharing!
Wowww, ” you can’t see them until one day…”
You can unpack so much within this line alone…it really gives the audience time to meditate on what one day looks like or what they would like it to look like, then how to get there!
So, much beauty in a rare soul!
Little lad, so soon originality
Were now had of remembrance to see
Like that dreadful hot summer-
Drenched in sweat then thinking
Scared to death, running to Dad…
Yelling out loud, “Hey Pop’s-I’m leaking”!
Or jumping down Superhero style-
Straight off the top of the staircase,
Knowing your cape-towel all the while-
Would land you safe on the base!
Such fun mischief you often went through,
A wonder-dare conquering fears…
The natural boy came to you so clear!
Yes that little boy with hazel eyes and smiles too!
The lines stepped over, “one and only” say they-
At such a time past-you were always this way!
No toys to bring for elementary all for-“show and tell”…
So to school in a box-you brought snakes so well!
When came your turn-they slithered out all around the room,
And all the girls surely thought-this was final doom!
They all jumped up, they screamed and they fled…
But us young boys caught them-let them go, and caught them again!
Have I not to go on of-your happy younger self,
But you were so thankful all for everyone else!
You liked all those kids that none would play with,
You felt bad and cared-so you friended all of them!
That is only character, by God instilled for good…
And because of Him-so poor, yet rich you stood.
Yes little Timothy, original you were-
And that has carried on, in sincere imagination sure…
Even unto this day!
Yea, still that little guy inside-
By your kids is forever embraced!
Love ya lad!!!
6-18-24
“And because of Him-so poor, yet rich you stood” My favorite line 🦋
Thank you for sharing I imagined it all in my head. Especially the part with you showing off the snakes in class and having to chase them all along side the boys.
Thank you for existing ✨
I appreciate you so much Vanessa, I’m gonna have to look on your profile soon. When someone appreciates you for who you are-I think that is very cool! Ty for being and having a positive person and attitude!
Timothy, this is such a fun poem! I can just see you bringing snakes into the classroom for show and tell! As a teacher, I think I would have to quit after that! 🙂 I love how you embrace the quirkiness of childhood and I am sure that you still bring that excitement into the lives of those close to you. Thank you for sharing your poetry!
Emmy,
Thank you so much for reading my little story. And more importantly thank you so much for being a teacher. I love teachers so much and they are like angels to me. It was the teachers that took care of me in school when I never had anything ☺️ teachers are like angels to me and my cousin is a teacher and two people from my church are too.…read more
I feel stuck, for I was never an outgoing child.
I preferred to stay indoors with my head buried into a book,
reading my heart out.
If only, had I realized my passion earlier on,
I would’ve certainly been better off.
Instead of dragging myself to a job I’m only entertaining to pay the bills,
I would’ve been doing what I love all day long.
This is something I’ll always regret.
I hope I didn’t miss the bus and will be able to become a published writer one day.
I can connect to what you wrote on a personal level. I, too, was always shy and preferred reading over socializing. Even today, I am a bit of a homebody who would rather stay in than go out and face the crowd. While I used to think this was “wrong”, I appreciate it about myself now. We just have to find our people. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Dear younger me,
It was not fair, the things life handed to you. You witnessed tragedies that I strive to protect our children from. You cried silently as you watched domestic violence all around you. Wishing you were big enough, strong enough to make it stop. Chaos engulfed you and created your broken childhood.
You longed for a father to love you, I am shattered to say that never happened. I know the tears you cried at night, silent tears streaking your face, in hopes that mom would not see your pain.
I am sorry you experienced abuse we still do not speak about. Sexual abuse you kept secret to protect mom. That secret is still safe.
I admire you for always trying to protect mom. You saw her pain and tried to swallow it for her. Keeping secrets safe so she would not break. Mom was your hero, she was super woman in your eyes. You saw at a young age she was not dealt fairly in her life either.
You laughed and played and have amazing memories, all thanks to mom who tried to bring light to the darkness.
I catch glimpses of you in our children. Imaginative, funny, smart, and love so much. I will protect that in them, the same way someone should have protected that in you. We healed, for the most part. We try to enjoy life and accept the harder hands we are dealt.
I will always try to be the care free and loving person that you were until life broke us. I built a hard wall in order to ensure we are never broken that way again. I will remember you though, remember the love you had to give, the smiles you created, and know that I too can invoke that on others. Just like you, I still strive to protect the ones I love. And that is why at night, sometimes I too cry silent tears.
Alyssia, it hurts my heart to read about the pain you still hold within yourself. Sometimes, all we can do is our best and hope that it is enough. I love how, even though you have lost the innocence of childhood, you still remember how it felt. I’m sure your children will have the same strength as you. Thank you for sharing!
Hello young friend. Let us walk.
To shoot the breeze and talk the talk
Things haven’t been easy
Since growing up, waiting for my happiness
With my still empty cup
However the best thing I can say that is true
Is there wouldn’t be me
If there hadn’t been you
Your Empathy for others is what I love the most
Like a graveyard that loves a friendly ghost
Your compassion, your heart, your ability to care
Wide eyes of compassion never replaced by a stare
Your heart of gold is as pure as can be, and your love for others is without a fee
These are things I admire in you
A love for humanity, I wish then I knew
Just how important these qualities would be
Before I gave the world time to harden me
So I’m taking back time and letting you know
While I’m now a red light you were always a go
I wish I had Empathy like you did again
It’s more of a now instead of a when
I wish I still had the ability to care
I’m much more truth then I’ll ever be dare
So I’ll go on living that knowing in me
There is an selfless person even myself didn’t see
As you grow up remember to not be so hard
And to not tattoo over the place that is scarred
For life isn’t all bad
If that’s the picture I drew
For you can’t fixed ripped paper
If you don’t have the glue
I love your words to yourself, positively you I presume! “There wouldn’t me, If there hadn’t been you” So true yet some of us are still running lol. Thank you for the uplift🥰
Andrea, you are right that “you can’t fix ripped paper if you don’t have the glue.” I love this line. Too often, we try to fix the broken parts of us before we are truly ready. In order to really heal, we have to be able to put ourselves back together. Thank you for sharing your poetry!
That little blonde bowl cut with the straight bangs
The smile ear to ear
Nothing evokes pride like seeing yourself as a child with no fear
I’ve watched home videos and seen the energy
Spinning around like Taz, you see
I loved the camera, all eyes on me
I didn’t care about anything
If there’s anything I’ve learned about myself it’s that the little version of me was tough
She saw things and heard things no little girl should see or hear
But she kept on keeping on, took the wheel and steered
She took control and made her own way
Her hair went from blonde to now growing her first gray
I thank that little girl for never giving up
I love that little girl for letting me grow up
Sherry, I love your description of yourself as a child. It seems like we all had a bowl cut and bangs at one point or another. I am inspired by the way your younger self experienced terrible things but still went on to grow into a strong woman. Thank you for sharing your experience.
The innocence , the optimism. You were so full of love.
You gave your ALL to the stars above.
You never looked back or second guessed,
Not a doubt in your heart you let progress.
I loved how hopeful and unaware you are.
I love how your unique personality took you so far.
Separated from the rest and yet you passed the “test”,
I love how you always did your best.
I love that you have not learned about life yet,
I love that you live with no regrets.
Sitting in my Disney decorated room ,
unaware of any threats,
it’s YOU
I’ll never forget ……
Thank you for sending me a friend request, that was the first one I ever got! Your poem spoke volumes to me, and you have a nice writing style. I wish I knew how to send personal messages-just because I guess. But I have 2 books I wrote, 1. Falling Shadows and 2. Rising Shadows. Now I’m on my 3rd one called, “We do Recover”. Yes, their poem books.…read more
Jasmine, I love the way you love your younger self! I think we all miss that childhood innocence and optimism, but we know that we can never get it back once we grow up. We can live without regrets when we don’t know about the curveballs life will throw at us, and this is a beautiful time in our lives that we should cherish. Thank you for sharing!
Jane, I am so inspired by your words. I feel like we all search for the sweet, innocent, and hopeful little girl living inside of us. When we are adults and experience pain, we long for the times before we knew life was hard even though we can never get it back. Thank you for sharing your experience!