The Keys to the Future

The doors to yesterday are shut tight and locked.
     Only windows allow quick glimpses... you, face red and angry, eyes shut tight, refusing to accept reality away from your warm, slushy world of heart beats and distant voices. 

    Alas, we are all thrust out into bright lights, cold hands, and loud noises. Our lifeline cut in two, leaving us without a tether. 
    The air presses in all around, the first heavy burden we bear. Simply lifting our heads is too much to ask. How quickly we adapt. We learn to accept the indignities of a flesh body. 

     I watch you grow again and again. Each birthday is a celebration…and a time of mourning. Missing the child you were, whom I'll never see again, carry again, hold again. Each year you change into someone else and I come to love you everyday, with every smile, every word and moment. 

     I may miss the baby I see through that window to yesterday, but I also look forward to falling in love with who you are and will be each and every day. 

     The doors are locked to the past... but we have the keys to the future, in the eyes of our children.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025


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

Date: 7/31/2025 8:49:00 AM
There is a contrast between the young and the grown up. How we loved our children, but each according to his age. I love the name Crystal and must try to read your poems more often.
Login to Reply
Woods Avatar
Crystol Woods
Date: 7/31/2025 9:07:00 AM
Week I would be honored to have you read my poetry... you give such good reviews! Thank you Victor! Xo
Date: 7/30/2025 6:06:00 PM
A lovely poem commemorating the precious memories of times spent with our children and the joy of looking to our future experiences with them and who they will become, Crystol. Nothing but good feeling while reading your poetry, today, my friend. A poet friend in Texas, Bill
Login to Reply
Woods Avatar
Crystol Woods
Date: 7/31/2025 4:15:00 AM
Thank you poet friend Bill! So glad you received good feelings from this! Xo
Date: 7/30/2025 5:20:00 PM
engaging words. I appreciate and agree with your perspective. Liked both the first and last lines....such truth in them. Wishing you a pleasant evening, Sara
Login to Reply
Woods Avatar
Crystol Woods
Date: 7/31/2025 4:16:00 AM
Smile... thank you! That's such a great compliment! Xo
Date: 7/30/2025 5:03:00 PM
Love the final lines!
Login to Reply
Woods Avatar
Crystol Woods
Date: 7/31/2025 4:17:00 AM
Sweet! Ty! Xo
Date: 7/30/2025 2:02:00 PM
I enjoyed reading your wonderful write. Great and true first line. Yesterday is gone. Great last line. We have the keys to the future if we will use them. "Good Luck" if for a contest. Have a fun day writing away..........
Login to Reply
Woods Avatar
Crystol Woods
Date: 7/31/2025 4:17:00 AM
Thank you My friend Paula! Your so very generous! Xo
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter