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Choices

Three score and five and I am still alive
It's been a rocky road from there to here
For years my only goal was to survive
When each tomorrow was a new frontier

Of friends and foes that came into my sphere
The beauties and the beasts, my counterparts
Some saw me stumble, others saw me cheer
Those who were with me from the very start

And though I can not name them all by heart
Nor deeds nor misdeeds, that which came to be
The choices that I made, they had no part
If one should point a finger, point at me

Responsibility is mine alone 
Someday it will be I, who must atone.


     Daniel Turner
   Spenserian sonnet
 ABAB BCBC CDCD EE

Copyright © Daniel Turner | Year Posted 2023

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Sandra L. Weiss Date: 4/13/2023 12:31:00 PM Spoken with wisdom, and experience. You are right, my choices, and the mistakes, mine alone. A thought provoking verse, Daniel. Well written. Login to Reply Daniel Turner Date: 4/13/2023 2:42:00 PM Thank you, Sandra. Really great to see you. I hope all is well with you:)

Bj Legros Kelley Date: 3/21/2023 4:38:00 PM Oh my goodness, I am so pleased to meet your beautiful poetry. You have uplifted me with visits and comments to some of my poems, and now very much blessed me as I am reading yours. You have a new poet friend Daniel, and a new follower too! :) Login to Reply Daniel Turner Date: 3/21/2023 5:09:00 PM Thank you, BJ:) You are so kind. I really appreciate your support and i value your kind comments. I hope I don't let you down:)

Jack Ellison Date: 3/7/2023 5:54:00 AM I am very very impressed with your skills Daniel! My choices through life have not always been the best... I will visit more often! Good morning my friend! Login to Reply Daniel Turner Date: 3/7/2023 5:59:00 AM Hello Jack. You are human, like me. We all make mistakes(bad choices) thats life. I do not take offense if people do not read. I am glad you dropped by:) have great day my friend.

Susan Lawrence Date: 3/4/2023 7:29:00 AM Such poignant words from your pen Daniel . I agree this could be spoken aloud . So much to be learned from this . Your passage through time is raw and honest . Great write . Nice to come upon your work . All the best , Susan :) Login to Reply Daniel Turner Date: 3/4/2023 7:32:00 AM Thank you, Susan. Great to see you again. I apprecite you taking the time to read and comment. Have a great weekend.

Charles Messina Date: 3/2/2023 6:05:00 AM Great sonnet, Daniel. We've all made bad choices in life, I was no angel, I assure you (lol) But it is those that overcome them and make good are the ones we are most proud of. Best wishes in the contest, my friend. ~Charlie Login to Reply Daniel Turner Date: 3/2/2023 6:26:00 AM Thank you, Charlie. I appreciate your time and your insight. Have a wonderful day, my friend:)

Margarita Lillico Date: 3/1/2023 1:49:00 PM Poems like this beg to be read over and over again and out loud! A perfect poem that combines Depth on and in between the lines!!! Login to Reply Daniel Turner Date: 3/1/2023 2:26:00 PM Thank you, Margarita. Your kindness is humbling. Be well young lady:)

Joanna Daniel Date: 2/28/2023 10:02:00 PM That's so spot on, DT, we are responsible for our actions, we and none else:) Login to Reply Daniel Turner Date: 3/1/2023 4:20:00 AM Thank you, Jo.

Gershon Wolf Date: 2/28/2023 8:22:00 PM With your conclusion, I cannot pick a bone. Login to Reply Daniel Turner Date: 3/1/2023 4:19:00 AM Thank you, GW:)

Deb M Date: 2/28/2023 7:56:00 AM Love this very real , honest and mighty write In which you take responsibility for your choices in life Daniel !! Debx Login to Reply Daniel Turner Date: 2/28/2023 8:04:00 AM Thank you, Deb. Talking to myself outloud:) However it is something we must all do. Great to see you again:)

Tony Hargreaves Date: 2/28/2023 6:17:00 AM Hi Daniel. Enjoyed your sonnet. Three score and five - I can relate to this. Those long gone years that we now contemplate. Some joy, some sadness. Tony Login to Reply Daniel Turner Date: 2/28/2023 6:37:00 AM Thanks Tony. The one incident I always go back to, was my very first serious girlfriend. One of the biggest mistakes of my life was letting her go. great to see you, Tony:) Be well!

John Lawless Date: 2/28/2023 5:31:00 AM "if ya wanna dance ya gotta pay the piper" At least that's what dad always said. So "dance as if no one is watching"..Love the sonnet Daniel Login to Reply Daniel Turner Date: 2/28/2023 6:35:00 AM Thank you, John. Don't you just love those old cliche's your parents used throw out there. The best part, they were all true:) Nice to see you again John:)

Anitha Jayasankar Date: 2/28/2023 3:09:00 AM This is such an honest write Daniel. Loved your rhymes too. Yes, we must be ready to take responsibility for our own mistakes. Excellent. God bless... ~ Ani Login to Reply Daniel Turner Date: 2/28/2023 4:27:00 AM Hello Anitha. Doesn't look like you've changed one hair since the last time I saw you:)Thank you so much. We make hundreds of choices every day. Most we don't even think about. Unless they're in prison or military, people generally do what they choose to do.

Mystic Rose Rose Date: 2/27/2023 6:44:00 PM This is very well done Daniel, most people are always reading to blame the other, never taking on their end of the bargain I enjoyed your poem very much I always love a good well written poem. Login to Reply Daniel Turner Date: 2/28/2023 4:22:00 AM Thank you Vie. Yeah, that was kinda the purpose of the poem. Everyday I hear a story on the news or internet where someone is blaming someone else for their own decision/choice. Always a pleasure sweet lady:)

Janice Canerdy Date: 2/27/2023 3:34:00 PM Danny, this sonnet is excellent in every respect~~skillfully written and deeply meaningful. You are so right: WE must answer for our mistakes, wrong decisions, . . . . Janice Login to Reply Daniel Turner Date: 2/27/2023 5:46:00 PM Thank you, Janice. Well that's the way I was taught anyway. It's been a while since I wrote a spenserian sonnet. Just trying to get my chops back. I appreciate your time and your opinions. Be well:)

Kim Rodrigues Date: 2/27/2023 2:26:00 PM Oh! Very very good! I do that too…yes we look at others but ultimately we are responsible for our own minds, thoughts, actions… Login to Reply Daniel Turner Date: 2/27/2023 2:46:00 PM Exactly! No one has ever forced me to do anything I did not want to do. except go to school. LOL Thank you for a very friendly visit. I hope all is well with you and yours, Kim.

Paula Goldsmith Date: 2/27/2023 1:37:00 PM Your "Choices" is a powerful write. Love It. Have a blessed day writing away................... Login to Reply Daniel Turner Date: 2/27/2023 2:44:00 PM Thank you, Paula. Always happy to see you. Be well:)

David Kavanagh Date: 2/27/2023 1:10:00 PM Yep I totally agree Daniel, responsibility can sometimes be ours alone, unless forced into a situation that requires an impulsive mitigating response, but that’s not your point; In the end if there are things we have to atone for, then it’s up to us and nobody else to do so, excellent work here, cheers David Login to Reply Daniel Turner Date: 2/27/2023 2:43:00 PM We may not always get to choose what happens to us but how we deal with our circumstances is ours and ours alone.Thank you David for your insight and for a very nice visit. Be well.

Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 2/27/2023 12:57:00 PM - Sometimes we make choices that have consequences we weren't aware of - Maybe good, or maybe a little bad, tough or difficult... good luck with upcoming decisions - Great written, Daniel :) - hugs Login to Reply Daniel Turner Date: 2/27/2023 2:41:00 PM Thank you, Anne. These days, I make my choices very slowly. for me life has slowed down tremendously. Always great to look up and see you. I hope all is well with you sweet lady:)

Heidi Sands Date: 2/27/2023 12:46:00 PM You are strong DT! I love this honest poem too. A Fave for me :) Login to Reply Daniel Turner Date: 2/27/2023 2:39:00 PM Thank you, Heidi. I appreciate your time and comments. It is 71 degrees here as I am writing this. A gorgeous day in the south:)

Ilene Bauer Date: 2/27/2023 12:25:00 PM good one, daniel! i guess we all have to own every choice that we make in life, despite the fact that so many like to blame others. clearly not you! Login to Reply Daniel Turner Date: 2/27/2023 2:37:00 PM Well at least that's what we are led to believe. truthfully no one knows for sure. If it is so, then yes, I accept my fate. Always a pleasure Ilene:)

Frederic Parker Date: 2/27/2023 12:16:00 PM A life lived, a life enjoyed, understanding one day a payment is due... the question is "was it worth the price" I hope it is yes Login to Reply Daniel Turner Date: 2/27/2023 2:36:00 PM I'd like to think so, Frederic but we all make mistakes. Thank you for dropping by and commenting. I hope all is well with you my friend.