No Going Back

I have seen the face of there is no going back
Wiped away the tears of hate
Held the hand of addiction's bitter hatred
Ripped the mask from a lie's
Own face

I have reached way up to touch the bottom
Said goodbye, then returned
To feel my heart break one more time
When the fingers of my regret
Got burned

I have walked in the darkness of I can't feel
Because I choose not to
Fell face down and bumped my head
On every feeling I numbed
From truth

But I saw the face of I can still go on
Looked into my own eyes
Crawled out of darkness in such pain
Even those empty spaces
Made me cry

I am no different than you or you from me
We both carry our own pain
I only know that now I choose to feel
Enjoy my life with no regrets
In light remain

Author's Note

This one is about as raw as I can get for now.............

Reviews

[FJ Davis]

A triumphal journey, vividly described. Pain transformed into joy; depression trounced.
Darkness is for concealment--very infrequently, for recovery. But in the end, dear lady--no matter how excruciating the journey, how seemingly comforting, the dark--we, if we truly want to live, have nowhere else to go but the light. It is that universal beacon declaring "home."
As for your terrible ordeal, Neva, I'm so glad you made it back.
Your lovely, soaring poetry is a gift hard-earned--and ultimately, a precious gift to the world.
Thank you, for persevering.

[Zeitgeist Manifesto]

This is empowering work. This in spoken word is a must have for the marathon runners ipod!

[Hayley]

Wow I love the language in this! Favorite:
I have seen the face of there is no going back
Wiped away the tears of hate
Held the hand of addiction's bitter hatred
Ripped the mask from a lie's
Own face

This is very raw. Which is why I love it. It exposes the best.

[HopelesslyDevoted]

powerful for sure
i think this is your best one yet

[SpokenWord]

Our hearts are the strongest muscles and if we chose to believe in it, it does recover to love again and again even after the worst of heart breaks. Love takes strength and I will to find it, to hold it and to accept it for what it is. Beautiful poetic poem as always.

[Chris Smith Welshpoetcs]

This one was a shocker, you bared your soul in a brillantly dark and raw poem. Love this one and a favourite.

[Maggie]

Addiction, pain, and suffering all rolled up into a bitter meal that you don't want to eat but are forced to...that is what I see...good thing you chose to leave such things in the past.

[Abdul Aziz]

Raw poems have a tendency to be more emotional, just as unpolished songs can be. And these outpourings of your ever willing heart stand testimony to that. I love the optimistic tone of your poems.

Just one correction, though... Stanza 3, line 2 .. "Because I choose not to"

[Derek S.Keck]

Beautiful piece Neva! I feel the deep cutting meaning you wrote into this one. Whats beautiful about this one especially, is your point that we choose to dwell in the darkness; our own personal hells. Just like we choose to live now and be born again, in the light of day. I feel like all of my work has been an attempt to write this one poem of yours. Instant favorite!

[Joel M Frye]

Third stanza rang most true and loudest for me, Neva. Raw it is, as in flayed alive. It takes an incredible, indomitable spirit to look at one's own pain and say aloud, "I did that". It's that spirit which carries your write to the light and healing at the end. Thank you for sharing this side of the journey, ma'am.

[Ed Hart]

the real salvation, i love the taste of it