Never Look Back

another perspective

Razor sharp and fast as lightening,

he moves amongt the masses

like a shark who won't stop feeding.

Shifting from woman to woman---

feasting... till he tires of the dish.

Then, forward he goes.

Never looking back, not a glance.

Concern isn't a concept he knows;

he's deaf to the sound...

of a breaking heart

and his fingers are numb

to the jagged pieces of it.

He appears to be a master of his craft.

The spark in his eyes,

the flash of his silver-coated smile,

the definition of his body

make it all too easy.

But, before i could scorn him,

the tiniest detail stands out...

just behind that spark in his eyes

lies a void... blackness.

A place where nothing seems to call home.

Is this what drives him?

Does emptiness motivate---

curiosity kills reluctancy

and i blockade his way,

abruptly breaking his stride.

Before a word can break my lips,

the scabs of repression peel back---

and I'm in his darkness... that void;

is the space I live in.

I'm the fuel behind his recklessness.

Past pains endured sit atop my back,

the ugliness of the world

is what pushed me here...

to this pit.

He was engineered to protect me,

from them and their selfishness,

their cruel selfishness.

Never look back... never care again

is what i told myself.

I retreat back to darkness.

He knows what to do,

but I remind him anyway.

Move forward

and never look back.

Author's Note

I've survived many things, this is another perspective of who I am as a result. Though this is a very personal piece to me, your honest feedback is welcome. As always, thank you for reading.

Reviews

[Lydia Shutter]

The past is always a part of who we are in the future, but it does not have to rule the future. To me, there is a statute of limitations on pain and angst from the past. There just has to be in order to move onward and upward. Raw and honest emotions throughout this well written piece. I liked that it is written in the third person. Thank you for sharing such personal emotions. Lydi*

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you, I appreciate your visit and great review of my work. Pain is a tricky thing to overcome, we all have our ways of coping. For a long time, my way was denial. Its not the pain that has to overcame, so I've come to learn, but the parts of us that were created due to the event. Sharing these types of pieces help me keep my own denials at bay. I look forward to the day where the weights of the past are completely excised from me. For now, I'm just trying to love all of me in spite of them.

[Lydia Shutter]

I hope you succeed....it looks like you are on the right path.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you.

[Yellow Butterfly]

You wrestle with your own subconsciousness throughout this honest write openly sharing your inner most darkest thoughts exposing a little of who you were way back when. This reads like a testimony to yourself PH and your diction has been executed very well all the way through this profound write. You have evolved as a human being and this is proof in your ability as a writer to pen down such a personal piece. We are not here to judge you only praise you on your strength of character. You should be proud of the fact that you have clearly moved forward in wisdom.


YB

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you so much, it truly is a gift to share my work with such an understanding crowd. You humble and inspire me at the same time! i can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate your endearing words and sincerity.

[Yellow Butterfly]

Your Welcome once again.... haven't been around for a while... it's good to be reading and re-reading your work again and work of other inspirational writers here on WC :)

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

I have been away myself, and know exactly what you mean.

[Frieda P]

Apparently the past has done a job on your head and rules your future now, I know it well, this resonates in my bones as to what our has happened previously in life really does dictate where one goes, how that person thinks and reacts. It's all fear conceptualized and what keeps us at arms length from ourselves and stops us from repeating history or moving forward, whichever the case may be...deep, provocative, honest and gusty write my friend...superbly well done.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you, Frieda I know you understand the place where this comes from. The strength I've read in some of your work is what helped me post these types of writes. Been holding back from posting this for quite some time, then I just said "f*#k it!" lol I'm glad to know it's a good piece.

[Frieda P]

My pleasure, it does take a bit of getting used to when you first expose your guts, glad we can all inspire each other here...glad you decided to say fook it. ;-)

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Me too, and the inspiration factor is why I come here. This has truly put desire back in my pen hand. I stopped writing for a long time after losing my brother, it just felt different. Now, I'm trying to learn to have fun with my writing too. Oddly enough, Angi just suggested I write something funny... I hope I can. lol

[Frieda P]

Weird after I lost my sister that's mostly what I wrote about....I'm sure you can find the funny side of life in your pen, let's face it, most of it is pretty hysterical, go for it....!

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

You have a point... I'll give it the ol' college try!

[Frieda P]

So how did it go, I'm not seeing any funnies....

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Still working on it. lol just moved this week, so things are kind of chaotic at the moment.

[SyberRose]

Many thought provoking questions..Life has many poignant agonies. A heartrending read
and should be very therapeutic for you Travis...and thank you for sharing with us...Rose

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Its my pleasure to even have a few words in the company of great writers like yourself... thank you for another lovely review, Rose.

[SyberRose]

You are welcome Travis

[Rita L. Sev]

Your metaphors are spot-on in this piece. You sow the emotional stagnation of someone who is mired in the pain pf past hurts, but there is a desire for hope. "move forward. Never look back" - a concept easy to say and understand, not as easy to carry out... but that is the goal. Honest and well-written, Travis; excellent write.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you, Rita... it is easy to say. Your review is very much appreciated.

[ShelleyA]

Hi Travis. A very good introspective piece; heartfelt, dark and powerful. You express anger and pain in this crafted protection of self that is deep, shadowing your steps fueled by your emotions of hurts past and present. This side of yourself is ever ready to take control when needed, a most haunting presence that sees through your eyes retreating to that place deep within yourself until the need for his emergence. Good word choice. Good closing lines. Well penned. Write on!

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Shelley, your interpretation is a bull's eye! I'm glad to know that it translates so well to the reader, sometimes it's hard to see through the emotion to tell how accurate it will come across. I respect your ability so much, and truly appreciate your thoughts on my work. BTW, I've been flirting with the Trijan Refrain... no luck yet, but I'm working on it.

[ShelleyA]

You're very welcome Travis. Always a pleasure to read your poetry. I look forward to reading your Trijan Refrain once it is finished. Have a great day!

[Dye]

This has a dark feel ...fighting with inner demons.

"He knows what to do,
but I remind him anyway.
Move forward
and never look back."

Very wise words. Sometimes we do have to remind ourselves. It can be easier said than done.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Fight with this side of me is what I definitely do. Unfortunately, some I encounter still make him necessary. Thank you for the lovely review.

[ANTO]

We can get angry at what the world has made us do and how we have been forced to act because of the actions of others and this leads us to do things we aren't proud of ph. We need to look at what we did, why we did it and then forgive ourselves and as you splendidly wrote to tie your poem off like a clip on an umbilical cord - MOVE FORWARD, and never look back.
Well done ph.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thanks, bro... your thoughts are always welcome and looked forward to. The ending on this piece, I wish I could say I intended to symbolize moving on from that ill behavior. It actually is the embrace of said behavior because it's safe... it represents me retreating back to my safety zone and letting the "beast" deal with the world I'm afraid of trusting.

[Joyce S. Greene]

You have penned a fine character study. Part of the speaker, the part that was fatally hurt (most likely in childhood) lives in a dark world indeed. A world where only his survival counts. Fine poetry. I am impressed.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

You have studied this well and you are accurate. I'm glad to know my work on this has impressed you, I tend not to spend a lot of time on this type of write.

[Hatchling]

I love it!! Keep up the good work

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you very much, your thoughts on this are very much appreciated. I will be certain to reciprocate the gesture.