In life, sometimes the hardest thing is to let go. It could be a relationship, a dream, an identity or a feeling of resentment. Regardless of what it is, the harder we hold on to it when we shouldn’t, the harder it is for our lives to move forward.
When circumstances change and you keep clinging to what it was, you’ll be stuck in the past. So if you’re struggling right now, here are 6 poems about letting go to hopefully make things a little bit easier for you.
1. Let Go by Julie Hebert
Sometimes in life,
Things don’t go your way.
They make you frustrated,
And unhappy through your day.
There are many things,
That could help you see through,
To what could be helpful,
And give a new point of view.
But sometimes those tricks,
Are just a misguide.
And all you really need,
is to let go and not take sides.
Lay down and close your eyes,
And think only good.
Maybe what’s needed is a compromise
Let go and find yourself in a better mood.
2. Don’t Look Back by Judy
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!
3. To Let Go by Unknown Author
To “let go” does not mean…
to stop caring, it means I can’t do it for someone else.
To “let go” is …
not to cut myself off, it’s the realization I can’t control another.
is not to enable, but to allow learning from natural consequences.
is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands.
is not to try to change or blame another, it’s to make the most of myself.
To “let go” …
is not to care for, but to care about.
is not to fix, but to be supportive.
is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being.
is not to be in the middle arranging the outcomes, but to allow others to affect their own destinies.
To “let go” …
is not to be protective, it’s to permit another to face reality.
is not to deny, but to accept.
it not to nag, scold or argue, but instead to search out my own shortcomings, and correct them.
is not to adjust everything to my desires but to take each day as it comes, and cherish myself in it.
To “let go”…
is not to criticize and regulate anybody but to try to become what I dream I can be.
is not to regret the past, but to grow and live for the future.
is to fear less, and love more.
4. Changing The Past by Donna
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.
More poems you may like:
5. Letting Go! by Alice Cordy
To let go does not mean to stop caring,
it means I can’t do it for someone else.
To let go is not to cut myself off,
it’s the realization I can’t control another.
To let go is not to enable,
but allow learning from natural consequences.
To let go is to admit powerlessness, which means
the outcome is not in my hands.
To let go is not to try to change or blame another,
it’s to make the most of myself.
To let go is not to care for,
but to care about.
To let go is not to fix,
but to be supportive.
To let go is not to judge,
but to allow another to be a human being.
To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes,
but to allow others to affect their destinies.
To let go is not to be protective,
it’s to permit another to face reality.
To let go is not to deny,
but to accept.
To let go is not to nag, scold or argue,
but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.
To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires,
but to take each day as it comes and cherish myself in it.
To let go is not to criticize or regulate anybody,
but to try to become what I dream I can be.
To let go is not to regret the past,
but to grow and live for the future.
To let go is to fear less and love more and
To let go and to let God, is to find peace!
Remember: The time to love is short.
6. Letting Go by Louise Bizzari
Letting go of yesterday
Memories slip and drift away
Like breezes through an open door
Quickly felt and felt no more
Thoughts of laughter
Thoughts of crying
Thoughts of living
Thoughts of dying
And let the memories drift away
One by one they slip away
Final thoughts
Letting go of the past and move on is difficult. The reason is that it means letting go of an aspect of your identity, a part of you that must die.
However, it’s not impossible. And however bad you have right now, I guarantee in the future you’ll be in such a better place that when you look back at this moment you’ll laugh.
Until you get there, I hope these poems about letting go had helped you somewhat. Good luck!
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Thomas Dao is the guy who created Poem Home, a website where people can read about all things poetry related. When he’s not busy working on his next project, you can find him reading a good book or spending time with family and friends.
