THE THINGS I MEANT TO SAY
(T. Beechey)
It seems that,lately,all I have spinning 'round my head,
Are all the itty bitty things I never ever said,
So many times I wanted to and countless times I tried,
But who knows why? It seems that I kept them locked inside,
Days turned to weeks,then months and years,soon a lifetime passed,
And what remains are endless tears instead of smiles to last,
Oh,I'd give everything I had for just another day,
To hold you close and whisper those things I meant to say.
I meant to say "Good morning" each time as you awoke; I meant to say "How are you" whenever we spoke,
I meant to say "You're special" when no one seemed to care; I meant to say "I thank you" for always being there,
I meant to say "I'll help you" no matter what the task; I meant to say "I'll listen" to each question you'd ask,
I meant to say "You helped me" for answers you'd give; I meant to say "Because of you" for reasons that I live.
So many things I meant to say but something always got in the way,
Now no one's here to hear a word and so these things will not be heard,
But they echo daily in my mind and so I find myself resigned,
To listen as my conscience sings these intended but unuttered things.
I meant to say "I'm sorry" when I knew I was wrong; I meant to say "Don't worry" when roads ahead seemed long,
I meant to say "I'll lead you" when you couldn't find the road; I meant to say "I'll take it" when you couldn't bear the load,
I meant to say nothing at all each time I'd complain; I meant to say "I'll shield you" from every drop of rain,
I meant to say "Forgive me" for each tear I made you cry; I meant to say "Please give me one more chance to tell you why."
So many things I meant to say but something always got in the way,
Now no one's here to hear a word and so these things will not be heard,
What was I thinking? Why'd I wait? I know it now but now's too late,
My heart lies bare with broken strings atop a mound of voiceless things.
I meant to say "I'll find it" when all you sought was time; I meant to say "I'll pull you" over each uphill climb,
I meant to say "Take my hand" as each road began to slant; I meant to say "Yes,you can" when you said you can't,
I meant to say "We did it" as we passed each test; I meant to say "It's over" when we'd find time to rest,
I meant to say "Here's the key" to secrets that I keep; I meant to say "Dream sweetly" as you closed your eyes to sleep.
So many things I meant to say but something always got in the way,
Now no one's here to hear a word and so these things will not be heard,
Except by me from the morning sun until the day is finally done,
Yes,now you're gone and each day brings to mind these never-spoken things.
It seems that,lately,all I have rolling through my brain,
Are all the teeny,weeny things I'll never say again,
The things I should have said to the one I was with,
And all those misspent moments that have faded into myth...
So many things I meant to say but something always got in the way,
Now no one's here to hear a word and so these things will not be heard,
Sometimes,at night,your name I'll call to a faded frame on a shaded wall ---
I meant to say "I love you,"
I meant to say "I love you,"
I meant to say "I love you..."
And that one hurts the most of all.
Author notes
This is in honor of and in tribute to:
Thomas Daniel Beechey,Sr. (my father)
Geraldine Lindell (my maternal grandmother)
Anna Hutchinson Beechey (my paternal grandmother)
Adam "Dutch" Beechey (my great-uncle)
James Lasher Beechey (my uncle)
Vivian "Bim" Beechey (my great-aunt)
Andrew Lee Fend (my son)
Gordon Cyrus Hutchinson (my great-uncle)
Mary Reid (my great-aunt)
and
Patty Acord - Rev. Cassius Armitage - Ronald C. Armitage - Robert Bargerstock - John Beatty - George Beck,Jr. - Esther Bell - James Bell - Howard Blumling - Arlene Bobbert - Robert Bonney - Craig Bowman - Robin Boyle - Annette Brockman - Robert Brough - Robert Bruschi - John Burkett - John Burn - Vince Caccamo,Sr. - James Caltrider - Mike Capicotto - Steve Cary - Sam Castilyn - Richard Christie - Tim Cicco - Denise Ann Cieloszyk - Joe Clark - Russ Cochran - Robert Connors,Jr. - Sandy Connors - Bill Coulter - John Cumberland - Dennis Cummings - Robert Cupps - Marty Cypher - Andre Dec - Paul DeFelice - Thomas Ebbecka - Eddie Ellenberger - Lena Enright - Allen Fair - Lawrence Fair, Sr, - Lawrence Fair, Jr. - Nancy Fair - Charles Field - Eddie Flick - Ralph Fry - Robert Fudoli - Anna Graham - Jack Graham - Scott Graham - John Greenawalt - Judy Gurner - Bill Haley - Mark Henderson - John Horan - Steve Harbison - Eddie Hartman - Nick Heider - Dale Henry - Loren Henry - Doug Hesidence - Kevin Hindman - Jeff "Boomer" Hinton - Josephine Hobaugh - Richard Hobaugh - John Horan - Shawn Johnson - Steve Kalina - Eric Kaltenbaugh - Thomas Kamerer,Sr. - Ken Karenbauer - Paul Kelly - Charles Kepple - Dororthy Kepple - Michelle Kerr - Mark Kildoo - John Kirkpatrick - Max Kirkpatrick - Gladys Kline - Eric Knotick - Judy Krebs - Charles Kurtz - Coyle Lamison - Lou Lauteria - Dylan Leasure - Charles Leuthardt - Bob Marzullo - Matthew McCabe - P.J. McClaine - William McCloskey - David McDonald - Kathy McDonald - William McDonald - Edwin McGuire,Sr. - Ruth McGuire - Rich McKissick - Joyce McPherson - Ruth McQuistion - Walter Melik - John Miller - Harry Minehart - Patsy Monteleone - Orville Montgomery - Earl Morrow - Peg Morrow - James Mosier,Jr. - James Mosier,Sr, - Norman Miller - Rube Miller - Brian Neave - Fred Neely - Merrill Nelson - Charlotte Niggel - Earl Oesterling - Shirley Oesterling - John Oystersek - Art Pellon,Jr. - Paul Polo - Shelly Portman - Richard Raabe - Gordon Ray - Gary Renwick,Sr. - Darla Reese - Scott Richardson - Connie Riddell - Beth Rivers - James Rivers,Sr. - Jeff Rivers - Elizabeth Robinson - John "Big Jake" Robinson - Mike Roccki - George Rock - John Rock - William Rock - Darla Rodgers - Lydia Rosenblum - Jamie Roxberry - Bennie Rubino - Justin Schake - Tracy Schake - Charity Schmidt - Charlotte Schroth - Harvey Scott - John Seezox - Steve Sharpe - Harry Sintz - Tracy Skelley - Robert Sloan - Deanna Slupe - Greg Smith - Ron Smith - Sandra Smith - Annette Stumpf - Joe Stewart - Robert Stewart - Lea Turner - Matt Tynan - Raymond Vissari - Harold "Coach" Voelker - John Voelker - Steven Voelker - Carl "Cutty" Walker - Joe Walsh - Nicole Weaver - Scott Woodcock - Marion Woods - Curt Young - John Zellerino - Kevin Ziegler - Ted Zima
and all of the others throughout my life who have passed by,passed through...and passed on
I hereby grant you full permission to copy and print this work --- as long as you give me proper credit
Thomas Beechey
-Written December 20th, 2004-
A contest entry
- Season's Blessings by Star Shine.
900 points, ended April 9, 2007, 16 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Contest In Memory of Marilyn, and in Support of Family and Friends by Lady-Pegasus.
1000 points, ended April 13, 2007, 26 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Give me your absolute best poem by Gypsy-at-Heart.
850 points, ended May 2, 2007, 13 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - I Want Your Best! by JackFellDown.
550 points, ended April 20, 2008, 14 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Give Me the Best of You(show me your soul) by Deadmans Heart.
2000 points, ended May 18, 2008, 20 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - 'Top Billing' Poet to my Page - 2nd Annual Contest - Prompt Anything by Florida Sunshine.
525 points, ended August 30, 2008, 28 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Guardian Angels by xXGoddessofPainXx.
600 points, ended October 21, 2008, 13 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - one more day! by Honeydew.
550 points, ended July 29, 12 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 65 of 65
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this is really a beautiful write....thank you for your entry.
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I guess you have summed it up for all of us. You have written exactly what we all think and worded it beautifully. No wonder you have won so many trophies with this piece. I'm surprised they are not all gold.
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wow
my condolences to you on your many losses...a lovely written piece..i think in life we all at some point and time meant to say anything different then what we did say or should of said..as i read what should of been said to what wasnt said.. is what most of us feel when we lose a loved one...guilty..for things that were never said ..that should of been said..so great write..thank you for your entry. hugs..honeydew.
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Wow I've never seen a poem which has won a trophy in every contest it's been entered into.. The authors of competing pieces should be scared.. No just kidding.. This piece as many others in the contest has made me think a lot.. It is written with so much love and I felt every emotion you intended as I read this piece.. I think I too would liked to have said a lot to my friend before he passed on.. I do wish he could have lived a longer life as do you wish through your piece.. We all long for a second chance, or just those few extra hours to talk to the one's we truly care for.. Thank you for entering this piece.. Good luck
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You know Thomas, no matter how many times I read this superb write it just keeps on getting better....excellent ...mal
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Well, Thomas, this is an awesome message to share with your love ones and friends. We don't always get the chance to tell those we care about, how much they mean to you!
I wrote a similar poem and when I was finished with my list, I looked back and thought:
"God, how lucky of a person I am. I have an amazing list of friends." I see you do too. ~
Beautifully said, thank you so much for entering your work into the contest ~ it was my pleasure to read and review your work.
Best of luck to you,
Florida Sunshine
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great tribute. this was great
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Thanks for joining my contest
take care
good luck
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........nothing to say........
I'll see you in the finals of my contest; that is all I will add, for I fear that I might disgrace such beauty with inaccurate desription -
Quite impressive, that Is what I definently consider "putting a piece of your soul on paper" Thank you for entering this wonderful piece. Such an awesome topic to cover and really well done with the rhyme and structure of it. I like the background as well. It adds serenity to the depth of this piece. Definently well done. Good Luck ~peace
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wow
this was outstanding.....never having those oppertunities again is heart wrenching.....you said them beautifully in this poem though....so many things i wished i had said....great poem -
Great Tribute
This is a wonderful tribute to those you have loved and lost and it is also really sad. I think the "things we meant to say"applies to a lot of us. I know it does to me. This is truly beautiful, you have done a wonderful job with sharing your emotions. Thank you for entering and good luck
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This is so beautiful. It almost made me cry. I love this poem and how so true these words you wrote. Tis sad that you never got to say the words that was always there. But I think for alot of people you wrote on the list they know. Very good write and read. Best luck in the contest.
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I see that this has made the rounds as well.
I love the sentiment here. We too often pass up opportunities to express thanks or expose our feelings. This poem certainly makes that attempt.
My biggest issues with the piece are 1) I find the centered alignment distracting, particularly in the second, fourth and sixth stanzas where the lines end up wrapping and 2) some of the word choice seems forced to fit the rhyme. For example, "smiles to last" clearly rhymes with "lifetime passed", but it bears far less gravity than it's predecessor. However, phrases like "unuttered things" are evocative. Overall, it is a good effort.
Thanks for entering. -
beautiful!!! wonderfully penned!! thank you for the entry!!! xxxxx
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This is a fantastic piece, and for the second time today I have read something which has made me cry. This piece is so emotional and sad, but also in a way inspiring because perhaps others reading it might remember these words and remember the important lesson that life is short.
I truly am touched by this piece, and I might take you up on that comment about printing it off and put it on my wall so that I will always have a reminded of these words -
Thank you for your contest submission. Thank you also for the requested permsission. This tender write speaks deeply to the things we regret most in losing a loved one, something we can all keep in mind for the ones still with us before it is too late to say them. Best of luck in this and all of your endeavors.
Hetohke'e * 
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Beautifully crafted, this is one to print and post so that we all take advantage of life's opportunities to tell others how we care. There are words I must say that I will take the time to say to loved ones now. Vry strong with emotion. Thanks for entering.
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WOW i am speechless, i feel so bad for you that you never got to say what you wanted to say. thanks for your entry and good luck.
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I think... Wow... what an amazing piece of work. All those missed opportunities are thoughts with wings. They still reach the people you loved and lost. This work should be put to music.
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Beautiful
This piece touched my heart to tears...
I'm so very sorry for the losses you've suffered; I do know the feeling as I lost my Dad and a very special friend back to back eleven years ago
A beautifully written sharing; thank you for doing so
We wish you all the very best! -
Wow!!! What a beautiful stirring poem and it was all the things I wished I could say to all the people I lost in my own life. I love this poem and all it stands for because these are the feelings that all people have when the ones they love pass on. Thank you for the poem.
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Amazing
Oh my God, dude, that is amazing. That is the perfect country song, lol, no joke. I almost cried reading this. The loss you feel was conveyed beautifully by your words. You have incredible talent. Just amazing.
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very sweet
i really liked your poem. it was very sweet to remember all of those who may have felt neglected. i have too felt that way and iwish i could just open mouthand say the things that i want to say. your poem makes me want to say it right now,but i konw i still can not for fear hold me back. i would like to thank you for entering my poem and wish you luck.
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A lovely ending to a great poem.The internal rhyminf worked well though in some places it seemed a bit forced.Thanks for entering and best of luck
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OMG, I loved it so much. It was extremely long but was worth every second. I love this, it kept on building you up untill the very end where you were left with the truth. I loved the end. This brought on a great sadness to me because it fits so well into a little space in my life. I abesolutely love it with all my heart. Thank you so much man for entering this into my contest! You've made me so happy! You are such an amazing poet! keep writing from within!
See you around the deep end
moment liver -
Thanks so much for entering this is a wonderful piece your words are amazing
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This is amazing Thomas beechey, I sang it and it was marvellous, wonderful, spectacular, I truly did love it, it was so clever that you got the words to rhyme so well, well done, such a sweet gesture.
good luck in the contest
best wishes as always
xElectricEyezx
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this was beautiful. i loved it. AMAZING job
GOODLUCK
Delicate<3 -
This is a wonderful poem! It flows so easily. It is something worthy of taking note from. Many of us never say the important things while we have the chance. It is good to say I love you to the ones that mean most in your life. It is an awful thing to lose someone and have things left unsaid. You did an exceptional job expressing these regrets. Your subject matter is something we can all relate to. I try to tell all my friends and family that I love them and to "give them flowers while they live". Excellent write.
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Beautifully written Thomas. I could actually hear this being sung in the back of my head. You might consider sending it to someone to see if it can be recorded. Good luck in the contest.
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Beautiful!
Wow!!!I really love this.Because it's lyrics, I try putting a tune with it....Just wondering, did you imagine it to be up beat or more of ballad?This piece is beautiful and You did an amazing job!This is so true. I'm just like this. There are all these things I either want to say or forgot to say and I regret not speaking up later. You did an excellent job and I will add to your applauses!
Brittany
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Awesome and such emotion!!!
I really enjoyed this piece...i like the way you made it kind of lyrical but at the same time a poem but it really came from the heart. I can feel some emotion and i can really feel how much work you put into this. Great work here and this is just Awesome!!! I really loved this piece of work!!!! Keep it up and Great luck in the contest!!! Check me out sometime!!!
Amanda Rhea -
wow this is an AMAZING write, so raw and heartfelt and very much a tear jerker, i dont cry easily but this one made me think of all the ppl i have lost and did not say the things i intended to say, bravo on this write and blessings to you and your healing process, keep writing it helps a lot
much love and blessings
angelsvoice63 -
wonderfully done! I'm sorry for all of your losses... This piece is filled with so much emotion and it flows so well, Thank you for entering my contest and good luck!
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this is an incredible poem. Ive looked at most of them in this contest now and I have seen 3 that I thought were outstanding. yours is one of them. good luck in the contest
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holy cow this is awesome. its powerful, its emotional, you speed up a poem, you slow it down, you do everything a great poet should. i can see you took a lot of time to write this - its truly brilliant!
however its a pre-write, i no i said that "PRE-WRITES ARE ACCEPTED, BUT ONLY IF ITS THE BEST POEM YOU HAVE EVER WRITTEN AND HAS AT LEAST 10 APPLAUDS!" and it does have at least 10 applauds, but i also wrote: "please note that if push comes to shove, a newly written poem will slaughter a pre-write as it is fresh!"
so what makes THIS poem so much more fantastic than any other of the entries here? to win this poem has to be amazingly better than all the other entries (just so's you know, im not picking on you - i have asked similar questions to all the other entries)
tell me in your words why this poem is "the best poem i'll ever read"?
i await your reply -
I'm so sorry that so many loved ones have passed. I loved your piece this was clearly written from the heart and was written beautifully. I hope things are better for you these days. Best of Luck!!!
Trixie :-) -
have no regrets. though unspoken, these words conveyed themselves beyond a doubt. have you ever heard the Motley Crue song "If I Die Tomorrow"? thats what this reminds me of. fantastic piece and good luck in the contest!
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An absolute must read! BEAUTIFUL!
Oh, this is absolutely gorgeous! This was deserving of the gold, My Friend. I had to print this out. THIS IS EXQUISITE; SIMPLY BREATHTAKING
Thank you for sharing this creation with us. There are always so many things we wish we would have said, but I agree, it is those three little words that seem to be our deepest regret; is it not? We don't say those words enough, or express the sentiment behind them.
Many blessings and tons of
s
~ Becky ~ aka Veronica Cross
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Brilliantly written. I loved the continuous rhythym of the poem, and the message behind it is one that everyone needs to heed. Good luck in the contest!
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Amazing!!!
Hey I remember this poem from my last contest!!! I love every part you said "I meant to say...". It flowed very smoothly at that part. Good luck!!!
xoxo
emily -
Amazing
Wow that's amazing. You definitly have a good chance. I love every part you said "I mean to say...". It flowed very smoothly there. Good luck!
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Hey this is a rather sad poem. There's a lot of things that we wished we could say before someone dies. My mother's last words to her father were "I Hate you" ...we have so much to think about and we should live life as if it were our last day on earth.
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poignant
I think the most memorable thing about this poem is that it portrays that terrible feeling of guilt we all feel when we have lost someone. If it is of any comfort, it is not the things you said to the person, but the things you DID! Words are only words unless combined with actions, and you know the old saying, "actions speak louder than words".
Having said that, I too have had the same regrets that are portrayed so vividly in this poem. The poignancy is so strong, rhythm and rhyme nigh on perfect.
A wonderful poem to read and I thank you for sharing. Good luck in the contest.
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wow this poem is the first to make me cry.... brovo. i have not been so tuched by a poem in a very long time. and this is the first time it has ever happened here on all poetry. this mad me think of my mom who is a widdow and has been for 16 years. i could hear her voice as i read it but i have one good thing to say. the last thing we all said to my step dad the day he passed away was i love you, so i guess we got to say that to him. and that was the last thing he said to us. but it would be so nice to hear him say it again. and i also think of my sweetheart who has lost both of his parents and i know there are things he would still like to have saidbt mostly i think he would have said to his dad who wasnt such a nice man... i forgive you. good luck in the contest and i hope that when its being judged my words here to you are read casue i think this deserves to win a gold cup. i still plan on thinking up something to compeete her but after reading your poem i am not sure i can do it. thank you once again for sharing it and making me cry. your friend and fellow poet M.C.
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That was beautiful. Congrats on a poem well written.
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'Good poem' doesnt do it justice. that would have to be one of the best poems ive ever read and im trying not to exadgerate. That was... god, i cant even find the words. Whoever you are talking about i hope they realise what they have lost (thats what it sounds like it happened) wow. I cant even begin to say how that made me feel. Well done. Good luck in my contest (not that you need it)
nat. -
This is great, saying what so many of us I am sure wish we could have said at some time in our lives on those occasions that warranted it, but we didn't. Easy to read and understand, flows nicely. Well done.
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Great
Rhyming was absolutely wonderful...the poem was smooth, and had a great rhythem. I loved how you switched between a normal stanza to the one with the sayings...great ending, very sad and has a nice sense of longing to it.
Who's T. Beechey? Your name? -
hi.listen, im really sorry about that.my friend was supposed to read the final entries because i didnt have time to read them all.I told him he didnt have to comment but it would be good.now, more to the point.if he has not read your poem I would like to say sorry, and that he will no longer help me with judging.You have my most sincere appologies.im really sorry that he did not read your poetry(I'm not sure if he read everyone elses).but I promise that the next contest I make, I will have the time to judge all of the poems on my own and comment on all of them on my own.once again, my most sincere apologies to you.I promise my next contest no one will help me in judging.If you tell me what poem you have entered in my contest, I will be sure to comment and tell you what place you should've got.I will try and notify everyone else about the problem and about what happened if they haven't left for another contest already.I hope you accept my apologies and I assure you that no one will no longer help me in judging.I hope that you enter my newest contest that I will make very soon and I promise I will read everyone's poems in that contest.once again, my deepest and most sincere apologies.I'm sorry about all the things that happened in this contest.
Sincerly:
Chad Christensen -
Thought provoking
WOW! I don't think there's anything left to say that hasn't already been said. I'm speechless, kinda. This was just such a touching write. Its so sad because its true. I often think back on stuff I wish I would of said and no longer have the chance. I'm sure many can relate to this piece. I never would of thought to write something like this, you pieced it together very well. Thank you for sharing this. I loved it! -
Such a sad but yet true thing in life, how often we should say things and don't for what ever the reason. This was really a beautiful expression, thanks for sharing it.
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This would make a good song. Have you thought about cutting the lines some and putting it in that form?
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GREAT! i wish i to had said these things to my speical one because maybe then things would have ended differently and we would be able to overcome things better anyway keep up the good work love ya chelle
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beautiful
this kinda fits my life right now, except it's my sister that I ment to say all those things. She's now in Iraq fighting this stupid war Bush started for no reason. -
lol...i see that you can be a very good poet when you want ^^ lol...but this was a very sweet poem...i hope that whoever you wrote this for takes you back...b/c you seem to have really understood that you were wrong for not saying whatever you should have said ^^
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Good poem you might want to change the colors though because I found it hard to read
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This is really enjoyable.. and I can deffinately tell that your favorite autor is Shel silverstein. He is one of mine as well. but you have deffinately picked up on the story telling form of writing and that is awesome because well... I can't do it... and thus i am impressed. thank you so much for sharing and i loved reading this, even though it did take a good portion of my attention span.
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This is amazing! It's very sad, it almost brought me to tears... I can't help but think that if this one poem is so good I must read more!
Not a lot of people can nearly bring me to tears... congradulations on creating such a masterpiece!
-claps- -
.truth.
That's it. I'm a new fan. You, sir, are a master of words. I can't wait till you post more poetry.
I wish I could listen to this. These words, coupled with music...would have the whole world crying. Truly touching.
Your fan,
Rose -
This is simply beautiful. So sad, makes you stop and think. Its flow was wonderful and its message was Excellent. Great Job :-)
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wow...I'm speechless..and that takes a lot
first of all how honest and real this was-
it takes a lot of courage
to spell out these strong emotions
and make the reader feel what you
are trying to portray through prose and writ!
the style was magnificent,
and the flow was so easy
like warm honey-
beautiful!
I so enjoyed this!
~jag~ -
BRAVO!
omg..this was..heartwrenching...tearjerking...so emotional that i can't think of anymore terms to describe it...i'm speachless..this is such a great poem..not many poems can bring me to tears..i am supposed to be strong..but i lost it..i cried like a baby..I can't wait to read the rest of your work. -
Perfection!
I've just finished reading your poem, and I'm crying. I actually had difficulty seeing the words because of the tears, clouding up my vision...
This poem is so beautiful! It says so much about what we wish we'd said when it's already too late.
I meant to say "I love you", but I couldn't then, and now you can't hear it.
It hurts so much, to want to say these things, but never quite have the guts to do it, or the circumstances...
I have no choice.... this is by far, one of the best poems I have read here!
Love, MJ
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