Dear God,
if ever again
happiness
comes my way,
help me take it.
It's not only for me
but for the one
who gave it to me.
Regret is not only
for things unsaid,
but for things
misunderstood.
And after Time
has taught
its lessons,
please know
Sorrow will forever
surround those
whose lessons
came too late.
Terry
Author notes
It takes a long lifetime to sort out what is important.
A contest entry
- HUGUENAUTIES CONTEST # 30 FOR HUGH WYLES FAVOURITES GROUP ONLY by huguenauties.
750 points, ended March 24, 2008, 10 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Social comment on motivations?
Comments
1 - 28 of 28
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Talking about most ...
of the human race with "lessons come too late." I hope you get everything life has to offer in the way of happiness ... and then some.
Good job on the poem.
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Retroactively speaking
there are many kinds of happiness. Happiness in being greeted in the middle of a busy grocery store at rush hour by a happy young man's hug, saying, "Mrs G I want you to meet my fiancée! At last she'll know the best teacher I ever had!"
(I taught him in grade 5!) The many boys with ADHD, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, (I seemed to get them all) who put it behind them and made it onto the honor roll through high, and proud parents tell me they are doctors now, and teachers... the joy in their successes. Most of my happiness came in sharing theirs. The privilege of living where Nature is even yet unspoiled, miles and miles of trees, beauty where only sparrows sing. The wonder that when all my family older than I have been gone for decades and too many younger too, I am still here and with new knees, able to walk again without canes like other people, where wheels could never take me! And most of all, blessed with dear friends like you, who care that good things still remain! Life is full when we truly appreciate the attainable. Happy, as is.
Thank you Jim!
Terry
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Congratulations, Terry!
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Wonderful Terry, I'm so happy your entry won a trophy. Hine
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Congratulations Terry
On your BRONZE trophy.
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Congrats on the trophy.
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Congratulations, Terry!
Your wise, well-written poem deserved a trophy.
<3 Maureen
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Dear Terry, I guess we'll always have a lot of "What if's" My first wasn't very happy so we eventually parted but what if we hadn't? Would I have met Heathcote? That is unthinkable now as Heath is the love of my life.
I enjoyed reading your poem Terry I hope you do well in the contest.
Love Hine.
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I'm still sorting, no doubt about that. I have a feeling I'm not going to learn either, ah well, enough about me.
A very wise poem, that makes perfect sense and I guess that's why I haven't followed it...ah, guess this comment is gonna be about me no matter how hard I try, lol.
But that's to your poems credit that it got an unthinking fellow thinking.
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So happy to provide the opportunity!
There is a lot to be said for he powr of thought! More people should!
Thanks for checking in!
Terry
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What a profound message in this poem, Terry. I'm reminded of the saying, "Youth is wasted on the young". As maturity and age set in, we realize this more and more. So many 'what ifs'
An excellent poem, good luck in the contest
Dee
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It's those 'what if's !
Thank you Dee!
Not that I could stand losing anyone, but where did Life go?-- Was I ever young? So long ago I cannot remember what it was like--no, not quite, but married, I was too soon knee-deep in little children--they kept on coming! ...and the years flipped by like in a windstorm, half-lived more grief than joy, and then...
There was a lot to be said for how peaceful being solitary can be, even briefly, until the grandkids come...
Rerun!
Terry
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Dear Terry,
There's a Pennsylvania Dutch expression, "We grow too soon old and too late schmart!" Unfortunately, that's true for most of us. I like that your poem's in the form of a prayer..and I hope that God answers your prayer. There's another saying, "Every thought is a prayer and every prayer infused with belief is an answered prayer." Believe you're entitled to happiness and that it is still possible to be happy and you'll surely experience it!
I enjoyed your poem! Best of Luck in the contest!
<3 Maureen
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Hi Maureen
I sometimes think I was born old, but it did nothing much for schmart! Thus it takes powerful help just to break even! Sorry, I guess I blew that one! It really is a lot easier to accept things as they are... there are so many species of happy, and others more deserving.
Thank you!
Terry
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Dear Terry,
As they say "It's better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all."
I guess we all have regrets in life of what could have been. I know I have.
Loved reading your poem very much.
Love Jen
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Too true
True, but we do not miss what we never knew.
48 years of marriage should be enough for anyone. That does not necessarily mean it was all happy. By reducing expectations, happiness can be called contentment, making it easier to achieve.
Thank you more thought!
Terry
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A really thought provoking and touching poem...
"Regret is not only
for things unsaid,
but for things
misunderstood."
That is so true for me it almost made me cry to see it written down so bluntly, great job.
Claire.
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Thank you Claire.
Is it loss if it never even had a chance to be?
File it under "Oh well..."
Terry
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Dear Terry,
Ah yes! Lessons always come too late and some of us never learn!
Teaching takes time and Time is ever tardy in imparting wisdom. We should learn from our mistakes but, all to often, keep repeating them.
Your poem gives rise for much thought and I think regret is more for words said and misunderstood than for unspoken things. Nevertheless, when a loved one passes away from us and it is too late to tell them of our love, that is always a lesson of regret. Best of luck in the voting.
Applause, love and hugs, XXX Hugh (R.)
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Hugh, right again of course.
You said, "We should learn from our mistakes but, all too often, keep repeating them."
Very true.
There are several reasons for that. Probably the worst is EGO. It leads to defensiveness and anger, retaliation and denial. I suppose it was lucky for me that my mother whipped that out of me before the bullheaded teens got to me. At the time it forced me to be very aware of all my flaws and faults. Ego does not thrive in such circumstance. I do however see a lot of unhappiness where ego rules the roost, glad mine is gone.
Another reason not to learn is simply to be unaware the mistakes exist, leading to neediness and search for protection, reassurance, and excuses to hide behind.
A third way is to have been overprotected too long, kept from discovering that all things cannot be sweet roses. I could go on, but it is miraculous that we learn from experience at all!
About "words said and misunderstood than for unspoken things," I think that is true for most of us. In my case I also have had a lot of things left unspoken--not daring, most often.
Can you imagine, shy? I mean why should anyone care what I think, how I feel? They are too busy with their own concerns. That has been true most of my life.
In novels I have written the outlet as quoted by characters, was a wonderful release!
Have I published? No. Haven't even tried.
Writing was satisfying enough. My first meganovel in draft, (learning the craft) sits with pages turning brown in six binders on the shelf, single-spaced, fourteen hundred forty pages. I used to rush to the computer in the mornings to see what my characters had been up to since last day. The thing wrote itself as so many poems still do.
Enough is sometimes too much. I'm going!
Cheers, and both thumbs up!
Terry
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Regret is a bitter taste.
This is such a personal poem for me, I hardly know what to say. These are important things; people should know that you are happy about them, and always that they are loved. Misunderstandings multiply until there is a maze that would take a miracle to traverse.
"Too late" in the last line suggests that there is such a time, but remember my father in law, who after thirty or forty years made peace with everyone before he died.
The one addressed seems to change in stanza 4, or I am misreading it.
Wonderful poem, Terry, good luck.
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Margaret, ever alert...
You are right about verse 4-- we do not give advice to God! The wise among us however learn from the misadventures of friends!
Thank you for your thoughtful message, dear M!
T
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What a beautiful, philosophical
prayer, Terry.
Line breaks are skilful. "help me take it." This line, as an initial line, has greater impact.
I used to think Allpoetry a place of inferior quality. Some of my friends who publish have a quick look and ignore this site.
A pity. This poem is an example of a poem that could be found in an anthology in a reputable bookstore in any city.
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Thank you Ron,
About that first line, "help me take it." I must give credit where due, my everlovin' Muse who knows things I am still learning, did that. Believe me, I know how very lucky I am that she has always helped me.
As for the rest of it, it has taken decades to find.
Mind you I really appreciate your generous comment! Thank you!
Terry
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Grab what ever happiness that comes your way.
Dear Terry, Thank you for being the first to enter our new monthly huguenauties contest.
If happiness comes your way Terry you have to most certainly grab the chance to take it, we're in an age group that gives us the right to choose to spend what life we have the way we want with no regrets.I'd rather spend my last days doing what I want and have no regrets about it. A beaut poem you have penned.
Joan -
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Dear Joan,
We of a certain age may well be justified, but realistically without a million in the bank, there isn't a hope in Valhalla--considering the package that hides who I am--that there is a blinking chance! Realism saves a lot of futility, and prevents foolish dreams.
As it is for the most part, being productive and helpful constitutes "doing what I want."
Not to say that dreams aren't nice...for others!
Casey and I (Casey is a young lady I have tutored in the past, a true friend now,) will be learning together how to write lyrics for the new songs she is bursting to share. Who knows, new skills may be useful for me too --songs with a unique point of view!
Many thanks!
Terry
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Oh wow.. powerful thoughts here. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you!
Too bad wisdom is so seldom seen in the young!
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