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Remorse For Past Deeds

Deep regrets lying dormant in the mind,
Stifle the thought processes lodging there
They mingle not with concepts refined,
Unless dislodged, they foster grim despair.
Remorse for past deeds you cannot repair
Will seriously tarnish your delicate soul
And from your good life take a bitter toll.

Written June 20, 2021

Copyright © L Milton Hankins | Year Posted 2021

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Maurice Rigoler Date: 6/22/2021 8:40:00 AM Remorse is a double edged sword,to use a hackneyed metaphor. One, it indicates we have a working conscience; two, it promotes (or should) repentance and a determination not to repeat the deed(s) that caused the remorse. Pummeling ourselves does more harm than good. / Maurice Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 6/22/2021 8:50:00 AM Yes, I couldn't agree more, Maurice. Your last sentence is so a propo!

Andrea Dietrich Date: 6/20/2021 12:13:00 PM Yes, some people become haunted for life. My only regrets are for things I did to myself. I can't think of any horrible things I did to anybody. Ah, one comes to my mind. I said goodbye to a mentally ill woman whose emails were just making me crazy. I did not treat her too kindly just cutting her off. It makes me wonder how we should react to situations which are dragging us down, but in cutting off these people, we are hurting them. This is something I do not know the answer to. Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 6/20/2021 12:48:00 PM Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Andrea. I think you have touched the crux of my poem. I really appreciate your read. We cannot allow others to drag us down; but, we also cannot allow our regrets to cripple us. We must strive to move forward. I have done things in my life that I am not proud of, but I can't change them now. It is history...the past...so I let go of them as much as possible.

Sotto Poet Date: 6/20/2021 12:04:00 PM Make the most of your regrets and never smother your sorrow, an exemplary message mostly illustrated nicely in these words: Remorse for past deeds you cannot repair. Will seriously tarnish your delicate soul. And from your good life take a bitter toll.// Lasaad Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 6/20/2021 12:08:00 PM Thanks, Lasaad. I think this is true.

David Kavanagh Date: 6/20/2021 11:55:00 AM Remorse is an essential part of humanity Milton, otherwise we’d all be psychopaths, it’s grounding to have it, but can become troublesome if constantly on replay, Your excellent poem is a generalisation of remorse, but the truth is, remorse can only be measured on the egregious nature of what is troubling the individual, cheers David Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 6/20/2021 12:09:00 PM Thanks, David, for your well-thought-through comments on my poem. I appreciate you.

Tom Cunningham Date: 6/20/2021 10:09:00 AM When we look back over our lives there's many things we're not proud of and wish we could change, the worst thing is to dwell on those misdeeds. Tom Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 6/20/2021 10:25:00 AM Thanks for your read and your comment, Tom. That's the point I was trying to make: "will...tarnish your delicate soul and from your good life take a bitter toll." I always appreciate your read and hearing from you.