The Place I Never Stayed

The Place I Never Stayed.

I miss the girl I used to be
The one who laughed too wild, too free.
Who danced on roofs, who dared to fall,
Who never once feared losing all.

She wrote in ink, not pencil lines,
She chased the dark, she read the signs.
Now I erase more than I write,
And fold my dreams away at night.

I loved a thing I can’t explain
A shade of sky, a kind of rain.
A breath between the wars I wage,
A silence louder than the page.

Some say that love is soft and warm,
But mine was thunder in a storm.
It cracked my bones, then taught me grace,
And left a shadow on my face.

I search in mirrors to find a trace
A flicker lost in grown-up space.
I speak in “used to,” “might’ve,” “when,”
I learned to meet myself again.

And though the world forgets her name,
That version burned, became my flame.
She still walks barefoot through my mind,
A ghost I never left behind.

Author's Note

So this poem, I wrote it while on vacation, enjoying the peace of nature. In that stillness, I remembered the girl I used to be unbothered by things, wilder, unafraid. I’m happy now as well, but life back then held a simpler joy. This poem is a tribute to my younger self and the part of me she will always be.
Hope you guys enjoy reading it!

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

The carefree days of youth. Then we grow up and our serious side starts to run through our veins instead of the young girl dancing in clover. This is both touching and relatable. Sometimes my inner child stands looking at me in the mirror, but she’s gone in a flash. Reality has a habit of kicking in unwanted. Lovely work dear poet.

Chris

[Ayesha Faiz]

Thank you for weaving your thoughts into the fabric of my poem. Really appreciate it.
😊

[Emunah June.]

I miss her, too. I miss my biggest concerns being the pattern on my skirt and the type of crayons in my backpack. I miss the feeling of grass between my toes and fireflies in the summer. I miss when the world felt swollen with potential, and the stars in my eyes lit my path.

I'm not saying I'm without ambition as an adult, but I sure have so many more burdens now. I have bills and paycheck math. I need to choose between extra shifts and social gatherings. I need to look out for my husband as well as myself -- and we dont even have kids yet, but thats down the line. I'm going to nursing school in September, which will devour whatever free time I have left, and while its welcome, its bittersweet.

You did a perfect job of capturing this nostalgia. I think we all can agree that we have points in life where we would gladly trade coffee for juice, work for naptime, and burdens for sleepovers. Its a dream that feels so far off, but so close. The words you chose and the prose they follow are light, airy, and almost take the reader through a waltz of their own, landing softly exactly where you want them.

I pray you find that girl and hold her hand through your walk. I'm still looking for mine.

[Ayesha Faiz]

Woah… this has to be the most wholesome and heartfelt review I’ve ever received. I’m honestly so touched by your words, and it means so much to me that my poem could spark such memories and feelings for you. Reading your own reflections made me smile and feel understood in such a deep way. I truly wish you the very best of luck in everything ahead... especially with nursing school in September. I hope you find that girl you’re looking for as well and I hope she walks beside you every step of the way. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing this with me. Your review truly felt like another heart beating alongside my own words. I'm truly grateful. ❤️‍🩹

[michelle buckley]

Wow, beautiful beautiful writing, Ayesha, I did indeed enjoy reading your poem, the resonance is vibrant, a wonderful tribute to yourself and younger self, that stands as a testament for girls who become women. Every word is alchemical. Peace, nature, and stillness is a wonderous place to be surrounded in for creativity. Thanks for sharing your moments in time, your voice is much needed and appreciated in this here dank, dark times of planet earth...

[Ayesha Faiz]

Your words about my poem truly made my day, thank you!

[michelle buckley]

Let's hear it for the girls, going forward in the world, dancing to the beat of their own drum and rhythm...

[Neha agrawal]

So beautifully written the imagery of storms, shadows, and barefoot ghosts captures both the loss and the quiet strength that came from it, making it resonate long after reading.

[Ayesha Faiz]

Your feedback on my poem is greatly appreciated.

[lost?]

so beautiful and raw ... time changes and heals and so do you. this gives much hope from reading it. it's about unrevealing ur younger self and giving her your thoughts. that's how childhood is. simple and pure and missing it is totally understandable. i'm glad you are happy, but nothing compares back to those days, honestly. keep on writing, its wonderful

[Ayesha Faiz]

I'm grateful for your time and valuable perspective on my poem.

[.]

This is a very honest and a beautiful poem! Your words are great, you are definitely a great poet who express her feelings amazingly. And this poem made me think about myself too... The times when I lost my spark, still I am kinda like that but I'm becoming a better version of me. I loved the part about daring to fall. Such meaningful... Trusting yourself enough to fall because you know you're gonna get up. I really don't know what else to say, I just loved this poem so much, and I'm a little jealous that I am not the one who wrote this😭😭
Wishing you all the best! You are great

[Ayesha Faiz]

Aww... I really appreciate your sweet comment. Also, no need to be jelous of mee, you should be jelous of yourself for becoming such a great version of yourself as compared to before.. You are great too! Everyone's great in their own way.
Thank you soo much for leaving a comment and reading my poem!

[Relic]

I know for myself, seeing the world through the eyes of the internet made me change a bit from what I used to be and the way I think. Also meeting people and knowing the bad side of them had an effect. You share in great detail and rhyme the changing and growing of an adult. The cares and challenges we must all meet which takes away the carefree child in us. If only we could live with that child again. Great poem.

[Ayesha Faiz]

Thank you so much! I’m glad my poem connected with you. I agree... it would be wonderful if we could keep that childlike spirit.
Once again, I truly appreciate you reading and reviewing my poem.

[Gregoria Ahmed]

Reading this poem felt like quietly talking to the younger me. The part about writing in ink and hiding dreams really hit home. You showed how growing up can be both beautiful and painful---and how some parts of us never really go away. Thank you for sharing something so honest and moving. It reminded me that even the old versions of ourselves still live inside us.

[Ayesha Faiz]

You're humble words have added a new stanza to my heart. Means the world to me that you took the time to read and review my poem.

[Gregoria Ahmed]

I recon authenticity in your writing and it is an honor to make the time to read your piece, I look forward to reading more of your work.🫰❤️

[Ayesha Faiz]

Every poet deserves a reader like you. Thank you soo much for the kind words and support.

[Gregoria Ahmed]

You're welcome, and thank you too for the kind words🫶

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Even though I did not write poetry when I was a little kid, it was always there in the way I saw and felt things. A simpler time in the fifties...in the early 70's I started putting into words those feelings. That poet is still inside me, he has just matured a bit. But I always saw things a bit differently. I think all of us poets do. The fourth stanza here really stands out.
j.

[Ayesha Faiz]

Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm really glad the fourth stanza stood out to you. It means a lot to hear that from a fellow poet.
:)

[Neville]

I too miss the simpler joys of those days now long gone .. in fact, I don't know anyone who thinks differently .. I think you have excelled here my friend .. Neville

[Ayesha Faiz]

It's always nice to hear from you...
I'm really thankful to you for your support.