DM Babbit Poet Prose Poetry

Hindsight 20 20

You must admit, 
 each of us has looked back in time
 reminisced about the past and all its happenings that now unwind,
the ifs, ands, buts 
 of how we got here to today's cascadings
 upon this stage of life's long paradings, 
intent and close with smile or tears of the circumstances
 bound in the cycles of seasons and years dancing;
this is the look back that brings us forward to this now
 the would have, could have, should have of how.
 
Those who knew my story, 
 had sad faces and sorry expressions
 after all, I was born unwanted with little doubt or question,
abandoned by both father and mother
 what possible promises were left to be kept or discovered,
too old to be adopted, 
 foster care did not await
grandmother came to retrieve my heart 
 allowing body and soul to escape,
 she would raise this child duty-bound but safe.

There seemed no other choice,
 at four I had no voice
this would be the path taken
 past possibilities forsaken
only grandmother's and child's heart would be
 silent questioning and prayers in the weaving tapestry.

This was the secret of my existence and arrival
 meant to be never spoken of, for survival,
but as I grew, 
 I always wondered why
 the method of the madness in my life slides,
the anger and resentment 
 that I was unwanted
 left my imaginings haunted
but as I learned, observed and listened,
 the path was well-guided, wisely provided;
alternate realities of my teenage and future years  
 produced a life lived well with laughter and tears,
 no regrets, just a look back at how it was,
quiet acceptance,
 of how I got to here.

For Crystal Woods contest, Hindsight 20 20
in retrospect, looking back and looking forward - we are all who we were meant to be.

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Crystol Woods November 30, 2024 at 12:06 PM I'm grateful you entered the contest! Your poem was written with such heart and soul. The sorrow i felt for you was assuaged by your ability to accept that the past made you who you are... and i hope you love that person! Thank you for sharing your heart! Xoxo

Daniel Henry Rodgers November 5, 2024 at 4:32 AM Hello DM, I like going out on PS and finding new friends and I came across this poem. I loved the introspective journey through the labyrinth of memory and self-discovery. I think your verses eloquently capture the bittersweet nature of retrospection and are full of emotions from abandonment to acceptance. Ahh, yes, the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of perspective. Good Luck with the contest, for this seems like a winner. Autumn Blessings, My Friend, Daniel DM Babbit November 5, 2024 at 8:14 AM Thank you so much, friends are a blessed commodity.