Weeds tickle the verge
of a well-worn trail,
like a broken drystone wall
and the dereliction between us.
In my mind brilliance
still shines in your eyes,
the path opens up.
As [devil's club](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil%27s_club) chokes
the woods we wandered
and groves we tended,
foxgloves line roads
through the forest.
I forage as months tick to years,
find solice in the forest of ideas.
This is one of those poems that spilled out of me when remembering a relationship that went sour. Sometimes, it is cathartic to revisit experiences that seem like a wasted opportunities - relationships that fell by the wayside like weeds at the edge of a trail, or a derelict wall.
It might seem maudlin or self indulgent to some people, wallowing in sorrow considering all the ‘could have beens’.
I don’t see it this way. Revisiting these things gives us the perspective of hindsight - often after enough time has passed it is no longer raw - and it is possible to gain new insight.
When looking back on these types of failed relationships, they always failed for one of two reasons - either there was a clash of egos or a divergence in expectations. Being caught up in the throes of love can cause many people - myself included - to lose themselves, taking on their partner’s traits, values and ideals.
This is a natural part of growth, but conflict can sometimes arise when you realise that not everything you once thought amazing about a person aligns with your worldview.
These types of realisations can be invaluable in new relationships, and for me, the way I come to them is through considering what didn't work in the past.
Love is blind, they say.
It most definitely can be 😂
Thanks for reading.
All pictures used are creative commons licence, credited beneath the image. If you have enjoyed this poem, you can check out my homepage [@raj808](https://peakd.com/@raj808) for similar content.
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