I let it go

A letter to my 13 year old self.

They where all saying what they wanted to be when they grew up

They all wanted to be doctors  and lawyers and policemen

Nobody ever wants to be a drug addict when they grow up they claimed

I was joking when I said I wanted to be homeless when I grow up.

 

It's okay, you didn't know, you were just a kid

You might have become homeless, but you're not now.

You've got two kids, both girls, they love you dearly

Really! It's okay. So what if it didn't turn out quite the right way.

 

So you weren't able to fulfill that promise

You know what? Your brothers and sister still love you.

You never know, you might still be able to go to Disney World some day

It's okay, you didn't know, you were just a kid, you can let it go.

 

So you got picked on a lot in school

Now look at you, you makes the ladies drool

You stood up for yourself, they didn't win

It's okay, you didn't know, you were just a kid, you can let it go.

 

So you had a few hard knocks

And you got your a*s whooped a lot

Dad was only trying to teach us, you didn't fail

It's okay, you didn't know, you were just a kid, you can let it go.

 

Now look at you

You made it through

You're a man, a damn good one too

It's okay, we didn't know, I was just a kid, I let it go.

 

Reviews

[Lyn Anderson]

This is wonderfully sincere. It is hard to think sometimes of who you were and who you wanted to be. I wanted to be something I don't even believe is morally right anymore -- I wanted to train marine mammals. It was something I didn't understand to be cruel, it's just that I loved those animals so much I wanted to be close to them. One thing -- the first line I think you meant were instead of where.

[realmwriter]

I did indeed mean we're. Thank you for pointing that out. You know I'm not so sure that there is anything morally wrong with training marine life in certain aspects but I do find how sea world has treated marine life reprehensible. Thank you for your review. I'm glad you like it.

[Sindu]

This is amazing. Very touching and inspirational. You went through a lot but at the end you a loving family which makes it all better. Everything never turns out like a story planned and written out. That's the beauty and the tough part of life. I wanted to be a surgeon but that didn't happen like all the people who know what's and how's of their future.
Nice to see you used you and we thing as well. Nice to see you make ladies drool and also became a damn good man :)

[realmwriter]

Thank you so much. That really me and a lot. Glad that you like it.

[Sindu]

You're welcome :)

[MusicManiac]

What a sincere poem--thank you for taking up the challenge (as it is a rather personal challenge)! I saw that you were a little hesitant to do so (that sounded creepy, sorry), but you truly did the topic justice. After all, we're writing to ourselves and in that sense, for ourselves.

I really like how your attitude progresses with poem--in fact, some of the lines had me smiling ('Now look at you, you make the ladies drool"....."You're a man, a damn good one too")! I especially love how you chose to use "we" in the last repetition of the last line, opposed to "you."

It can be amazing, the things we could tell our thirteen year old selves (honestly, I didn't even realize I would tell myself some things as I wrote mine). While we may have been disappointed in ourselves at the time for one reason or another, we now have all the more reason to be proud :)

I'm truly glad that I got to read this, thank you for sharing it!

[realmwriter]

I'm glad that you reviewed it. I have to admit that, yes, I was hesitant about doing it. I was kind of in tears at first as I started writing it, then it sort of progressed to a catharsis. Actually am glad that I did it. It was truly a unique challenge and one for which I am grateful to Momzilla to be gently nudged to do. I needed it. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for posting the challenge and for your kind words in regards to to my attempt at it. I truly appreciate it.

[MusicManiac]

You're very welcome! It means even more to me that you're glad you did it!

[realmwriter]

I think I might do another one. This one to my none year old self. I had a pretty traumatic experience then, we'll at least traumatic for a 9 year old. Held onto it for almost 31 years. I think it's way past time to let it go. This one will be very hard for me to do.

[MusicManiac]

If you decide to do another, I definitely look forward to reading it! You have a whole community of writers here for support, whether it be for during the process of writing or after for kind words :) Most of us start writing to make us feel better in some way, and if it can help heal scars that have been there since you were nine, then go for it and know that this community will be here for you!

[realmwriter]

Thank you for that. It's comforting to know.

[MomzillaNC]

Oh! Very well done. See! I knew you could do it!

Make sure you message the rest of the group with this and post it to the group page too!

[realmwriter]

I posted it to the group page just now. I'm not sure how to message the group as a whole though.

[MomzillaNC]

On the group page, click on the "Mail" tab. Then, paste the URL for your poem into the message. Highlight it, click on the link icon (the little chain link picture) and paste the URL in there and hit OK. Then send.

[realmwriter]

Okay' I'll do that, thank you.

[MomzillaNC]

You're welcome.

[realmwriter]

I don't see a "mail" tab on the group page.

[MomzillaNC]

The tabs are across the top of the group page.
Poetry Challenge tabs: Group, Members, Writing, Forum, Edit, Mail, Feature, Approve, Contest

[realmwriter]

I don't seem to have that tab. I have: Group, Members, Writing, Forum, Groups, Search Groups, My Groups and Create A Group. Am I on the wrong page? Sorry! I feel like a child that needs his hand held through this and it really isn't that hard. Kindergarten stuff really.

[MomzillaNC]

You have to be on the group page for Poetry Challenge Group.

[realmwriter]

Pretty sure I am on the group page. Perhaps if you provide a link here to assure that I am on the correct page.

[MomzillaNC]

http://www.writerscafe.org/groups/Poetry-Challenge/11410/

The tab is right next to the "edit" tab

[realmwriter]

Okay. Thank you.

[MomzillaNC]

You're welcome.

[realmwriter]

You and I must have different group pages, because I have clicked on every tab that I have on the group page and I see no edit tab nor mail tab anywhere. Sorry Momzilla, but I give. Uncle.

[MomzillaNC]

Weird. Maybe I'm the only one that has it because I started the group? I just looked at the page for one of the other groups I'm in, and I don't have the mail tab on it. SBT

[realmwriter]

SBT?......

[realmwriter]

Well then, how bout this. If you would like you can message the group with a link.

http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/scribbeler36/1444331/

[MomzillaNC]

You posted it on the comments yes? I'll wait for some more answer and message the group when interest seems to have waned with everyone's links.

[MomzillaNC]

SBT = Sorry 'Bout That

[realmwriter]

Oh yeah, I should have been able to figure that out. I did post it to the page, comments I think, but yes.

[MomzillaNC]

Cool. :D