Life Lesson Poems

Life Lesson Poems

Poems about Life Lessons

It has been said that life is the most patient teacher. You will be presented with the same experience over and over until you learn the best way to deal with the situation. This is not because life is cruel. Rather, it is because things have a way of coming back to haunt us when we don't deal with them. One form of intelligence is the ability to learn from mistakes. When you are presented with a painful experience, take the time to think about how you can avoid it in the future. This is an example of a lesson learned.

77 Poems about Lessons Learned from Mistakes

1 - 20 of 77

  1. 1. Good Timber

    Famous Poem


    The tree that never had to fight
    For sun and sky and air and light,
    But stood out in the open plain
    And always got its share of rain,

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    • Stories 7
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    • Favorited 94
    • Votes 3019
    • Rating 4.55
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    Featured Shared Story

    Poetry is a passionate way of expressing our innermost thoughts, emotions, spirit, and love, amongst other things. As I read this poem, I thought of a very humble gentleman who lost his...

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  3. 2. Start Where You Stand

    Famous Poem


    Start where you stand and never mind the past,
    The past won't help you in beginning new,
    If you have left it all behind at last
    Why, that's enough, you're done with it, you're through;

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    • Stories 0
    • Shares 155
    • Favorited 11
    • Votes 15
    • Rating 4.67
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  5. 3. Equipment

    Famous Poem


    Figure it out for yourself, my lad,
    You've all that the greatest of men have had,
    Two arms, two hands, two legs, two eyes,
    And a brain to use if you would be wise.

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    • Stories 10
    • Shares 16267
    • Favorited 93
    • Votes 1673
    • Rating 4.50
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    • Poem of the Day
    Featured Shared Story

    I lost my wife Donna in April 2021. Edgar Albert Guest's poem is inspiring me to carry on and get on with things. Life is too short.

  6. 4. Windows

    Famous Poem

    I looked through others' windows
    On an enchanted earth,
    But out of my own window-
    Solitude and dearth.

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    • Stories 0
    • Shares 89
    • Favorited 3
    • Votes 41
    • Rating 4.44
  7. 5. The Old Mill

    Famous Poem

    • By J. R. Eastwood

    One hundred years the mill has stood:
    One hundred years the dashing flood
    Has turned the wheel with roaring sound,
    Through foaming waters, round and round.

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    • Stories 0
    • Shares 20
    • Favorited 0
    • Votes 7
    • Rating 4.43
  8. 6. Love After Love

    Famous Poem

    The time will come
    when, with elation,
    you will greet yourself arriving
    at your own door, in your own mirror,

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    • Stories 1
    • Shares 3903
    • Favorited 41
    • Votes 876
    • Rating 4.34
    • Poem of the Day
    Featured Shared Story

    My husband died 10 years ago. He was the love of my life, my soul-mate, my best friend. I have not known how to 'adjust' to him being gone until I read this poem, "Love After Love." Everyone...

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  9. 7. As You Go Through Life

    Famous Poem

    Don't look for the flaws as you go through life;
    And even when you find them,
    It is wise and kind to be somewhat blind
    And look for the virtue behind them.

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    • Stories 2
    • Shares 3181
    • Favorited 80
    • Votes 356
    • Rating 4.33
    • Poem of the Day
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    Sometimes life goes up and down between hills and rivers, but with even the least courage and a sign of faith in the turn we make at the sharp curve, it all levels up to positivity no matter...

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  10. 8. Do Not Love Half Lovers

    Famous Poem

    Do not love half lovers
    Do not entertain half friends
    Do not indulge in works of the half talented
    Do not live half a life and do not die a half death

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    • Stories 0
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    • Favorited 2
    • Votes 46
    • Rating 4.30
  11. 9. A Poison Tree

    Famous Poem

    Analysis of Form and Technique

    I was angry with my friend:
    I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
    I was angry with my foe:
    I told it not, my wrath did grow.

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    • Stories 1
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    • Favorited 25
    • Votes 546
    • Rating 4.17
    Featured Shared Story

    A Poison Tree is a short and deceptively simple poem about repressing anger and the consequences of doing so. The speaker tells of how they fail to communicate their wrath to their foe and...

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  12. 10. Advice To A Son

    Famous Poem

    Never trust a white man,
    Never kill a Jew,
    Never sign a contract,
    Never rent a pew.

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    • Stories 0
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    • Votes 548
    • Rating 4.15
  13. 11. Don't Take Your Troubles To Bed

    Famous Poem

    You may labor your fill, friend of mine, if you will;
    You may worry a bit, if you must;
    You may treat your affairs as a series of cares,
    You may live on a scrap and a crust;

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    • Stories 0
    • Shares 30
    • Favorited 2
    • Votes 9
    • Rating 3.11
  14. 12. I Still Matter


    I'M STILL HERE

    My looks are nothing special,
    My face reveals my age,

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    • Stories 17
    • Shares 11960
    • Favorited 166
    • Votes 2492
    • Rating 4.60
    • Poem of the Week
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    Featured Shared Story

    This poem really hit home with me. I will be 60 on my next birthday and it seems like years fly by like days. I too look in the mirror and wonder where all the lines and wrinkles have came...

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  15. 13. Changing The Past


    • By Donna
    • Published by Family Friend Poems July 2011 with permission of the Author.

    The past is the past for a reason.
    That is where it is supposed to stay,
    But some cannot let it go.
    In their heads it eats away

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    • Stories 22
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    • Favorited 343
    • Votes 3308
    • Rating 4.46
    • Poem of the Week
    Featured Shared Story

    I really enjoyed this poem. It's so very true. We all have certain regrets or circumstances in life we would give anything to change if we could. Sometimes that is just not possible, and even...

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  16. 14. Each Moment Is Precious


    Live in the moment,
    Just take it all in.
    Pay attention to everything,
    Right there and right then.

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    • Stories 3
    • Shares 15055
    • Favorited 150
    • Votes 1171
    • Rating 4.53
    • Poem of the Week
    • Poem of the Day
    Featured Shared Story

    That was touching. It really said my whole life. I'm too busy with everything and I'm memorizing this to my heart. I'm busy with school. I take too much time thinking about tomorrow than...

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  17. 15. If You Must Go


    • By Terry Gouveia
    • Published by Family Friend Poems April 2015 with permission of the Author.

    If you must go, then go for a while
    Remember that first step is a hard traveled mile.

    To learn what lessons life has in store,

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    • Stories 3
    • Shares 4921
    • Favorited 114
    • Votes 855
    • Rating 4.43
    • Poem of the Day
    Featured Shared Story

    I, too, was motivated by your poem. Like Arimoon, I also allow my past to hold me back. I am so hard on myself for my past mistakes, regret, bad decisions, etc... but with each new day that...

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  18. 16. Forgiveness Is Divine

    Some people view forgiveness
    As a virtue for the weak.
    An act of mercy undeserved,
    That serves no useful need.

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    • Stories 3
    • Shares 6086
    • Favorited 53
    • Votes 725
    • Rating 4.46
    • Poem of the Day
    Featured Shared Story

    Hi Pat,
    I was so pleased to wake this morning and find one of your poems. Everything you write comes from your heart. I have commented to you before of how I enjoy your poems and I feel...

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  19. 17. A Snowflake Falls

    • By Ruth Adams
    • Published by Family Friend Poems November 2006 with permission of the Author.

    One night I saw a snowflake fall.
    Past memories it did recall.

    And as the snow fell to the ground,

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    • Stories 3
    • Shares 5943
    • Favorited 66
    • Votes 1472
    • Rating 4.42
    • Poem of the Day
    Featured Shared Story

    Superb, poetry as its best.

    We should count our blessings one by one,
    Every night and day, lest they be gone.
    Friends and family, hold onto them tight,
    For they may disappear in a...

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  20. 18. Keep On Smiling


    • By Alexandra Skiathitis
    • Published by Family Friend Poems February 2008 with permission of the Author.

    If at times you feel you want to cry
    And life seems such a trial,
    Above the clouds there's a bright blue sky,
    So make your tears a smile.

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    • Stories 2
    • Shares 7581
    • Favorited 95
    • Votes 1959
    • Rating 4.37
    • Poem of the Day
    Featured Shared Story

    So I moved and I really wanted good friends. I had this one friend who was always happy and could light up a room by walking in. He was always smiling and this poem reminded me of him. Thank you.

  21. 19. Which Way Life?


    • By Jerry
    • Published by Family Friend Poems May 9, 2023 with permission of the Author.

    A life won't do you favors
    There's no map for roads to take

    Experience is our only guide

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    • Stories 0
    • Shares 75
    • Favorited 7
    • Votes 19
    • Rating 4.95
  22. 20. Speak The Language Of Your Heart

    Each day we wake is such a gift;
    No moment's guaranteed.
    Tomorrow isn't promised,
    But to fate we must concede.

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    • Stories 1
    • Shares 793
    • Favorited 43
    • Votes 106
    • Rating 4.56
    Featured Shared Story

    This touches my heart deeply. I believe life is more about what "IS" rather than the what "WAS" with unresolved issues between family or friends. I am in recovery with four estranged...

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1 - 20 of 77

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