madilyn alwardt Poet Free verse

I Forgive Past Me

I Forgive the Past Me
I forgive the girl
 who stayed quiet
 when she should’ve screamed.
The one who apologized
 for taking up space,
 for feeling too much,
 for not being enough
 for people who never planned to stay.
I forgive the nights
 she cried herself empty
 and still woke up pretending
 she was fine.
I forgive the way
 she held onto people
 with shaking hands,
 even after they gave her
 every reason to let go.
I forgive her for believing
 love had to hurt
 to be real.
For every bad decision
 made from loneliness.
 For every tear hidden
 behind fake smiles.
 For every moment
 she blamed herself
 for things she never broke.
I forgive the anger.
 The fear.
 The sadness she carried
 like it was stitched into her skin.
Because she was surviving
 the only way she knew how.
And maybe she was messy.
 Maybe she was broken open
 more times than she deserved.
 But she kept going.
Even when her heart was tired.
 Even when nobody noticed.
So I forgive the past me.
Not because the pain
 didn’t matter—
 but because she does.

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment