There is nothing left there
Except ghosts and regrets.
Hidden land mines of
What should have beens and
Painfully unpaid debts.
Reminders of the you that once was
That will never ever be again
Mirages of comfort once received
That you will now never ever get.
Don’t look back, my precious,
That path has been washed away by tears.
The lessons learned now pillars
Of the you created over the years.
What has been bought and known to be
Useless in the days ahead.
Lay those burdens down and
Put those hoarded hopes to rest.
Don’t look back, my heart,
For you are needed now, and will have to face
New battles to fight and
New adventures and treasures to chase.
New moments of love and laughter
Of sublime pain, grief, success and grace.
Be careful not to pay for the past
With the coming years instead.
-alka Oct2022