Regrets

Carrying this burden upon bare skin,
naked apathy swallows whole
any ingenuity a new direction holds.

Burning chains, invisible and inconceivable
to the world encompassing, buried secrets
so deep, their ink tattoo marred
in pale serenity.

And still, head held high
continuing as if nothing in the world
matters more, than this moment
this second,
it’s mine.

What’s gone is gone, links forged in regret
carried, lamented, added, remembered
with respect-a mistake never to be repeated.

In the quagmire there is clarity,
a stillness, although chilling
brings with it some respite.

Once, it would have served as an anchor.
What’s gone is gone,
links forged in regret
can be used to feign freedom.

Reviews

[Ruth]

This is heart wrenching! Such intense emotion..the thought that something could have held as much power to be that anchor but the links...wow...used perfectly with that imagery..lovely work xx

[Julie Watkins]

This cuts deep in all the right places. Very effective write. I'd be tempted to change the line breaks a little in S3 to improve the flow and also enforce the idea of a miniscule moment in time, distilling it almost. See what you think, ignore if you hate though.

And still,
head held high
continuing as if nothing
in the world matters more,
than this moment
this second,
it’s mine.

This is a survivor's poem, it has real strength.

[Coyote Poetry]

Last lines is fact.
"Once, it would have served as an anchor.
What’s gone is gone,
links forged in regret
can be used to feign freedom."
Each of us will fall and must get up. Took me many years to not be negative. A positive person can see hope in the worst of days. Thank you for a poem with wisdom. A excellent poem.
Coyote