Letting Go Of The Past Poems

Published: October 2019

Poems About Letting Go Of The Past And Moving Forward

For many, the past year was tough. There were unforeseeable changes, unexpected diagnoses, broken relationships, the loss of loved ones, and many heartbreaking disappointments. It was a discouraging and frustrating year, one many would never want to relive. We look toward the New Year with great expectations and a yearning for the hope that things will be better. If it was a defeating year, it might feel as though there’s no possible way for things to be better. But we must each choose to move forward and put the past behind us.

Even in the darkness, light is coming. Even in the midst of the storm, a calmness is coming. Even in the midst of brokenness, restoration is possible. 

Although we cannot change the past, we can let go of it and move forward. A New Year is a chance to start fresh and leave behind the things that have brought pain and heartbreak. 

May these poems give you the hope, inspiration, and courage to let go of the past and embrace the future to pursue a life well-lived

8 Poems About Letting Go Of The Past And Moving Forward

  1. 1. Changing The Past

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

    What inspired me to write this poem was my brother. He was going through some bad stuff, but it was fixable. It wasn't as bad as what a lot of people go through in this world. Actually, he selfishly brought it on himself. I tried to talk to him as much as I could, but he wouldn't listen. He refused to let it go. He just kept holding onto it. When I couldn't get through to him, I wrote this poem because I needed to write my feelings down, and this is what came out. Hopefully you enjoy it.

    in Life Lesson Poems

    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

    Until all their focus becomes
    The person they used to be,
    The mistakes they made in their life.
    Oh, if only they could see

    That you cannot change what happened,
    No matter how hard you try,
    No matter how much you think about it,
    No matter how much you cry.

    What happens in your lifetime
    Happens for reasons unknown,
    So you have to let the cards unfold.
    Let your story be shown.

    Don't get wrapped up in the negative.
    Be happy with what you have been given.
    Live for today not tomorrow.
    Get up, get out, and start living,

    Because the past is the past for a reason.
    It's been, and now it is gone,
    So stop trying to think of ways to fix it.
    It's done, it's unchangeable; move on.

    Poem About Letting Go Of The Past, Changing The Past

    Go To Complete Poem

    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...

    Read complete story

    Touched by the poem? Share your story! (22)

  2. 2. Pain Ends

    • By Katy A. Brown
    • Published by Family Friend Poems October 2016 with permission of the Author.

    Growing up, I always struggled so much with things going on in my mind. My parents were sick, I kept getting my heart broken, and I even got to a point where I started harming myself. Things cruel people had said to me always circled around in my head, and it made me hate myself. I was so lost. But when I turned 15, I met someone who made me see things differently. And I was finally able to let go. The war in my mind stopped. That's why I wrote this poem.

    in Inspirational Poems

    Breathe in the fresh air,
    Put your mind at ease.
    Let down your hair,
    Let it flow in the breeze.

    Let your eyes wander
    To all the beauty to be seen.
    If those toxic thoughts you still do ponder,
    Then let out a scream.

    Scream until the pain is gone,
    Until you no longer feel afraid.
    Open your eyes to a new dawn,
    Let the darkness fade.

    No longer compare yourself
    Or your flaws to others' perfections.
    Take the negativity off the shelf.
    Focus on your direction.

    Pick the sadness up off the floor,
    Sweep it into the wind.
    Close the door on self-hatred.
    Never let it back in.

    For the lies it would often tell you,
    You will no longer agree.
    Happiness and love are what you should hold onto.
    They are whom you should give the key.

    Pay no attention to the toxic thoughts,
    Listen to those who adore everything you are.
    Overthinking was what you once were taught,
    But now those thoughts you put in a jar.

    Focus on your goals,
    Never lose your fight.
    It's time to open new scrolls.
    Everything will be all right.

    Go To Complete Poem

    Featured Shared Story

    There is a lot of freedom and promises of strength in this poem. I am coming to grips with the ending of a 47-year marriage with a man who has decided he 'wants something different'. It is a...

    Read complete story

    Touched by the poem? Share your story! (11)

  3. Advertisement

  4. 3. Perfect

    • By Shianne
    • Published by Family Friend Poems December 2017 with permission of the Author.

    I wrote this poem about trying to change. I spent so long being angry at everyone, and I'm trying to change now.

    in Hope Poems

    My heart flows through this icy land.
    Come and take my lonely hand.
    Show me how to make things right.
    Cry these tears no more tonight.

    Sing this sorrowful song into the air.
    Try to live without a care.
    Look up at the stars in the sky.
    Dry those tears from your eye.

    Lift your head, bring your smiles back.
    Paint your world with color instead of black.
    Undo your lies, make them true.
    Don't let your anger take over you.

    Open your eyes, what do you see?
    There's so many things that you could be
    If instead of thinking, you actually tried
    And forgot about the tears you cried.

    You could be living in a world of hope
    And letting go, learning how to cope.
    With everything life throws your way
    And living your fullest every day.

    You can force the shadows back to the dark.
    Leave without a single scratch or mark.
    You can learn to live without your pain,
    Without putting yourself through this strain.

    You can learn all this if you only realize
    It only matters what perfect is in your eyes.

    Go To Complete Poem

    Featured Shared Story

    I'm glad that my poem made you want to try and want to make things better in your life. I understand exactly what you are going through. I went through something similar, and I know my heart...

    Read complete story

    Touched by the poem? Share your story! (5)

  5. 4. Starting Over

    • By Tatum
    • Published by Family Friend Poems March 2008 with permission of the Author.

    Figuring out life.

    in Change Poems

    I'm trying to find something to base my life upon,
    Something in this strange world that goes on and on.
    As the years go by and time fades away,
    What used to be "good days" are now filled with dismay.
    Tomorrow comes, and then again it goes,
    And my ambition to become something more grows and grows.
    Around the corner, yet miles away,
    The life I want now gets closer each day.
    All I've ever wanted was something to live for.
    I don't want to be this little person anymore.
    I've been basing my life upon what others think.
    I wish I could go back and redo everything, every time an eye would blink.
    I've fought to become who I am and what I want to be.
    I have to remind myself that one day I will be free,
    Free from the rules I followed as a child,
    When everything was a game and life was so mild.
    Now times have changed and I realize nothing is fair,
    And sometimes it seems like nobody even cares.
    It's like no one pays attention to what I feel is best for me
    And what I think about the way some things should be.
    I understand now that I'm pretty much on my own,
    And I know a lot of what I can do will never be known.
    All the time I think about everything I can't say, what I have to keep in,
    And by doing this, my thoughts only get more complicated and deepen.
    Soon I hope to find out who I am and what I am meant to become.
    I want to know where I'm going.
    I don't need to be reminded of where I came from.

    Go To Complete Poem

    Featured Shared Story

    This poem touched me as well. I really don't want to go back in time, but I want to start my life again and change things around and do what I want to do. I want to live somewhere else and...

    Read complete story

    Touched by the poem? Share your story! (16)

  6. Advertisement

  7. 5. Don't Look Back

    • By Judy
    • Published by Family Friend Poems December 2012 with permission of the Author.

    Written for my special friend...

    in Courage Poems

    Just keep on walking,
    A small voice said.
    Don't dare look back.
    Look straight ahead.

    Yes, so many things
    Have changed.
    Think they'd stay
    As you arranged?

    Be strong and brave.
    Calm your fears.
    Keep that chin up.
    Dry your tears.

    Yes, love hurt
    And broke your heart.
    Keep your head
    And heart apart.

    Don't cry over
    What you have had.
    At least you had it.
    Don't be sad.

    This will be tough,
    But time will heal.
    Perhaps a new life
    Will then reveal.

    You are not new
    To this whole game.
    You gave your best.
    You're not to blame.

    The hardest thing
    There is to do
    Is love someone
    Who does not love you.

    So is it worth it?
    What's to gain
    When you love someone
    Who brings you pain?

    Just walk away
    And stand up tall.
    Count your blessings,
    One and all!

    Don't Look Back

    Go To Complete Poem

    Featured Shared Story

    I think everyone can relate at some point in their lifetime. I went through something like this recently where he cheated on me and broke up with me, but he still wanted to hook up and not...

    Read complete story

    Touched by the poem? Share your story! (1)

  8. 6. Start Fresh

    • By Ruchi Katendra
    • Published by Family Friend Poems July 2017 with permission of the Author.

    This is my story. For the first time in a very long time I've had an opportunity to start fresh, so I want to convey my feelings through this poem. This poem is about forgetting the bad things that happened to you and starting fresh.

    in Inspirational Poems

    I wanna start fresh...

    and forget this place, the wicked world I live in,
    but not forget how glorious and essential it was to me.

    Forget the memories that make me weak and sad,
    but not forget the memories that are an anchor to my strength.

    Forget the people who caused me pain,
    but not forget those who were with me in heavy rain.

    Forget my past, mistakes, and regrets,
    but not forget the lessons I learned from them.

    Forget the days when I cried silently, not aloud,
    but not forget the same days that make me strong.

    Forget the old me, find myself and explore,
    and emerge and shine as never before.

    This is why
    I wanna start fresh.

    Go To Complete Poem

    Featured Shared Story

    Very good words have been given to the stronger self-discovered after failures in life. Such attitude is essential to keep moving in today's very competitive life.

    Touched by the poem? Share your story! (1)

  9. 7. Learning To Let Go

    • By Liz Newman
    • Published by Family Friend Poems December 9, 2021 with permission of the Author.

    in Change Poems

    Letting go doesn’t
    always look how you think it will.
    Sometimes it happens all at once.
    Sometimes it’s in phases.
    Oftentimes it requires a few tries
    and heartfelt goodbyes.
    Even when it’s good for you,
    letting go is hard on a heart.
    But like the changing seasons,
    we will learn to change too.
    In time, in time,
    In time…

    Go To Complete Poem

    Featured Shared Story

    No Stories yet, You can be the first!

    Touched by the poem? Share your story! (0)

  10. 8. Letting Go

    • By S.C. Lourie
    • Published by Family Friend Poems December 9, 2021 with permission of the Author.

    in Change Poems

    She was scared to let go.
    She was worried that everything might fall apart.
    But she felt this heaviness, every day, growing in her heart.
    So she took a deep breath.
    She opened her hands and let it all go.
    And what’s when she saw beauty above her brow,
    telling her it was now *her* time to grow.
    Releasing her fears, she realised what it felt like to be free.
    It felt amazing, she felt like the joyous girl
    she once used to be.
    The chains in her mind had lied to her, saying that they
    were present to hold everything in place.
    But now her wings held everything together.
    It was time to fold her fears away.

    Go To Complete Poem

    Featured Shared Story

    No Stories yet, You can be the first!

    Touched by the poem? Share your story! (0)

Advertisement

Advertisement

1 - 8 of 8

Back to Top