Perception
By MV
To fully appreciate our progress
I must first walk you through this process
A world where words
take us in a new direction, introspection
equates to, a change in perception
a group of men who
were courageous enough, to see their OWN reflection
what stared back was redemption,
it moved its lips and whispered reminders
of what’s to come, should we keep the past
behind us
But first we learned
to heal the wounds from past abuse
and emotional burns
We began to find, and the separate the “I’m” in,
an impossible, I’m possible
Seeing the opportunity for growth through life’s obstacles
Our tree of change is demonstrated by our fruit
tested, tried, but still true, because our
remorse, our remorse is at the root
We slowly figured out our role, no matter the system,
collective wisdom, helps us to practice what we know
or at least to contemplate, the position, the position
from which we operate
Through this process…what I’ve realized is
Life is never hard, but a struggle
so breakthroughs never come to, the stonefaced,
but to the vulnerable and humble
what is a memorable journey with stories of
a pothole or a stumble? What is an earthquake,
without the testimonies of the ones, who survived
all the weight of the rubble?
And we survived, slowly learning how to thrive
to defy, is the power to continue to RE-define
Life’s tests become testaments
Stumbling blocks turn to stepping stones
Breakdowns become breakthroughs
From broken to brilliant
From resigned to resilient
From searching outside to finding all our answers within
This process,
Has freed us from the chains of shame,
and we’ve been embraces, embraced by the arms of grace
that say, “We are not our worst mistakes.”
Perception-from could have been
to what will be
Ugly falls, turn to rising gracefully
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MV this poem hits upon so many themes that are insightful and powerful to our experience on this earth. With great rhythm, you trace a path through the ups and downs of life. It is a great reminder that much of the mistakes we make and the disasters we encounter are defined by how we triumph over and move past them.
I love the callout to how ‘breakthroughs come to the vulnerable and humble’. This is very on point.
Please keep writing, your talent shines through and your poetry could only help others on their journeys.
You are so wise. Life is not hard, like a stone. It is a flow. Stumbling blocks turn to stepping stones. You are not your worst mistake. You are a part of the beautiful whole that some people call God. There is universal beauty in your words. They are your flow. Continue
This poem talks about transformation through self-reflection, healing, and redemption. You face your past, come to accept it, and learn from those mistakes. You turn any obstacles into opportunities and continue living.
I adored this poem and hope you continue writing. Truly you are gifted and writing is your gift. Never forget how talented you are, poet!
This poem eloquently captures the transformative power of self-reflection and growth. The speaker walks the reader through a process of shifting perceptions, moving from past pain to future possibility. The metaphor of seeing one’s own reflection as redemption is striking, representing the courage to confront one’s past and embrace change. The wordplay with “I’m” in “impossible” becoming “I’m possible” is clever and emphasizes the speaker’s realization of personal potential and resilience. The imagery of a “tree of change” with remorse as its root is profound, illustrating how deep personal growth is nourished by acknowledgment of past mistakes and the desire for redemption.
This poem presents a compelling narrative of personal growth and transformation through self-reflection, healing, and resilience
This poem truly shows what it’s like to “walk in someone else’s shoes”. This is beautiful writing and has a sweet message!
Thank you for sharing this moving piece.