There was a time
Girl Reading A Book On A Beach by Michal Marcol/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
when I was cemented in my past
and I could not see the future.
There was a time
when I could not stop visualising what lies ahead,
what will become of me.
Now I can only live in the moment.
I do not try to see the future,
I do not dwell on the past
and I can only taste the present.
I have surrendered
to the conclusion of another chapter,
and my fingers are slowly reaching
to turn the page of tomorrow.
© www.mypastmademe.com 2011
Submitted for Thursday Poets’ Rally Week 45 🙂
mypastmademe 
I commented on this before, but reading it again, I had to comment again. It’s a beautiful poem, with words not just for you and from your heart, but for others and from others’ hearts.
Thank you … I am particularly proud of it and tend to read it often as a reminder to myself of who I have become. This is really about undoing everything I believed … that my soulmate would magically appear, that this would happen, or that would happen and – if I’m honest – I never gave thought to working on myself so that I might be worthy of such things. Now, other than practical plans for the immediate future (ie daily living), I have surrendered to not knowing what is going to happen and with it has come an incredible amount of peace. I also now know I have lots to work on within myself. The key for me though, as I have realised recently, is not allowing my heart to turn to stone – otherwise certain things might end up staring me in the face and I will not recognise them or allow myself to receive them. I am so pleased that this poem (or any of my poems) might bring comfort or hope to anyone who reads them. I appreciate your comment very much 🙂
You’ve done it once again. You have woven thought into a promise of tomorrow’s glory. Kudos
Thank you so much for your poetic comment … I’m very flattered 🙂
A lovely state of being put into a lovelier poem!
Thank you so much, and I love the way you’ve described it as a ‘state of being’. So true 🙂
The use of “taste” is perfect in dealing with this age old theme. We do not eat the food of yesterday (well, except for leftovers, haha), nor the food of tomorrow, only the food of today. When thinking about this theme I can never resist quoting the old adage “with one foot in yesterday, and one foot in tomorrow, you end up pissing all over today!”
Thanks very much for sharing this!
That quote is class! lol I’ve never heard it before! Your observations (ie food/leftovers etc) are very thought-provoking; it just felt right to use the word ‘taste’, since it’s where we are right now, at any given moment. I appreciate your comment … and thanks for making me laugh! 🙂
very good poem, the future, the present, the past, we just learn and go on…
Thank you … yes, always learning for sure … 🙂
It’s that last stanza that really makes it – that connection with reading – and “tasting the present”.
Richard
Thank you, I appreciate your comment 🙂
Very nice 🙂
Reminds of this timeless quote
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” – Buddha
That is a beautiful quote and such a great lesson. Thanks for commenting 🙂
A true and excellent philosophy to live in the present and give thanks for it. Lovely poem.
I’ve known it for a long time, but putting the philosophy into practice has been a hard lesson to learn. And I’m still learning. Thank you 🙂
I loved this 🙂 It reminded me of my younger self but now, I’m more concerned of the HERE and NOW. It’s important to live each day as if it’s your last because when you think about the future, all you can actually make out is uncertainty. Very beautiful poem. 🙂
My sentiments exactly, although I have work to do on living life to the fullest, but each day is a journey 🙂 Thanks for your lovely comment 🙂
So many intellectual poetries seen all over submissions of poetries…Yours also is gr8!
Thank you, your comment is appreciated! 🙂
I love the structure and mood of this poem, especially the last two lines. Great job!
Thanks so much for your positive comment. Writing something uplifting is, in itself, uplifting! 🙂
Exactly where we should all be!! Nicely done!!!
Thank you Becca! 🙂
Just Great!
Past
Future
Present
and you are OK now…..
Genebrother
There are always mountains to climb (or hills if we are lucky), but I am okay now, thank you … and thank you for your kind comment 🙂
This carries a zen message, yet the fingers still reach out to turn the page – interesting . . .
I like this sort of sentiment in the written word.
regards
Harry
I hadn’t thought of that contradictory aspect … living in the now, yet reaching for tomorrow. I feel very proud of your ‘zen message’ remark … I am focussing on acceptance these days and always learning. Thank you for commenting, Harry 🙂
So many of us can relate to be mired down in the past or else caught up in a future that we’ve not even been guaranteed, a great reminder to live in the moment
Thank you for commenting! Yes, I’ve actually found the hardest part about living in the present to be letting go of a future that may or may not materialise … life feels a lot lighter now, like every decision I make and every mistake or achievement I make will be all my own, if that makes sense. 🙂
i like your take on life, to live every day to its fullest..
Thank you. Well, the foundations are there with me living in the present, but now I need to find the bricks and start building 🙂
This is a lovely, uplifting poem about coming out of the darkness into the light.
Forget about yesterday…you can’t turn back the hands of time. Don’t worry about tomorrow…no one knows what tomorrow will bring. Live for the moment…live for today.
Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for your lovely comments. I feel I’ve mastered living in the now (as much as I can anyway), but I have a lot of work to do on not worrying so much!! Still, always moving forwards … 🙂
Really nice poem and equally brilliant blog design!
The poem delivers its meaning well and thats what a poem should do.
Cheers!
Thank you, and I really appreciate the comment on my blog! I wasn’t sure whether to change it … and I’d like to think I’ll have time to put pics on at some point. 🙂
the ending sounds hopeful… loved the imagery…
well written
Hope … you have to keep hope alive I think. Thanks for kind comments 🙂
Nice one! Living just for today is a happy way to choose. Then, you don’t regret things from the past or that beautiful moments are gone and aren’t concentrating on the scary, uncertain future either.
Thank you. I think it’s a hard way to choose, in that it’s been hard learning how to do it! For all my mistakes, I wouldn’t change anything as everything as led me to where I am now. 🙂
Oh, this was wonderful. Live in the now. : )
I’ll be honest … it’s new to me, living in the now, but it does bring peace on many levels I think. Thanks for commenting! 🙂
Yes, the only moment in life we have any power over is in the ‘now’ of our lives, This says it so well.
Indeed … thank you 🙂
ready for a new day,
how divine.
love the revolving words and thanks for linking.
🙂
Happy Rally.
Thank you Jingle! It’s good to be back 🙂 Happy Rally to you also!
Knowing you can not control your future is a blessing in itself, dealing with whats in front of you allows you to dictate the pace. Well Written!
Yes, I am still learning to accept and identify the things I can control and surrender to the things I can’t. Thanks for your positive comment 🙂
You DO have a way with words.
Thank you so much 🙂
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Thank you, I have linked in. Not had much time of late, but look forward to reading lots of wonderful poems … starting now! 🙂
Love this! You have a way with words.
Thank you for your kind comment 🙂 I’m a little unsure of myself sometimes, but I try to be courageous in posting anyway!