Lessons Learned

It’s the things we take away with us
All the lessons that we learn
Expressions filed in memory
The times that we got burned

The times the heart gets broken
The darkness and despair
Hopeless situations
No mending, no repairs

Memory like a rolodex
Or an accordion pleated file
Heartbreak, loneliness, disparities
The list goes on for miles

Always adding to the inventory
Keeping the lessons close
Drawing on the things you've learned
The things that hurt the most

The lessons keep you on the path
Protection from future pain
So you’ll find what you're looking for
Using knowledge that you've gained

You won’t make the same mistakes
If you keep to what you know
The next time will be better
Because of how you’ve grown

Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.