Dear future self,
Those books upon your shelf
that you finally finished writing
are each a testament
to your will — you never stopped fighting.
I'm grateful, despite the fact
that, as you read this, I'll be long gone.
I'll be ink on the page,
a mode of thought to engage,
a nostalgic tapestry carefully drawn.
For, I believe, you love me now —
we both know it wasn't always so.
I hope, for your sake, you've come around —
you always tried so hard to grow.
To lick your wounds,
to change your tune,
to see the world in vibrant hues.
To use the best
of your abused duress —
to channel it, like the kings of the blues.
But the truth of the matter is,
you never had it half as hard as them.
Your brokenhearted heroes
with their poignant apothegms...
you know, you can never be them.
But you can be you for someone else.
Present family, future friends,
you can be the you who excels
at giving back to a graceful world.
At uplifting those within your reach,
at breaching new and fertile ground,
instead of moving only you
and moving only down.
But surely you've figured this out by now —
black hole is not a good look on you,
so here's hoping you've found a mirror.
Your conscience implored you for years on end.
I wonder, when did you finally hear her?
I'm making assumptions
with such gall and gumption
because you've shown me much of your hand.
You're still alive, and thriving,
so you've come far from the junction
of doubts, where our journey began.
How long was that road?
Did it ever get easier?
Are those grim ideations still on the attack?
If you'd rather forget, you don't have to write back...
but have you at least gotten better at finding a rhyme?
Sincerely,
you, once upon a time
About the Creator
Jacob Sherman
The desire to read, and perhaps to write, should be cultivated and nurtured with care throughout every stage of life. For my part I will inject what strangeness and truth that I can into our written history. Expect no constants but honesty.
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Comments (1)
This epistolary challenge is shaping up to be one of my favourites. Your entry is right up there with a subject that touches all of us. Well Done!