Trailblazing Reverie : Inferno's Surprise

"Sometimes they return, those ghosts of your past,
Not for nostalgia or memories that last,
But with an agenda unspoken, to see
If you're still the fool they once thought you to be.

Their patronizing smiles barely disguise
The mocking intent in their judging eyes-
They're hoping you're still just as dense and naive,
So their ego gets the boost that they need.

Don't let their smug glances make you feel small,
You've grown since they left, learned wisdom from all
The hard lessons life brings- success and defeat,
While they remain stagnant, bitter and fleet.  

So meet their sly taunting with empathy's grace,
Maturity shines in the lines on your face.
Take pride in how far you have come, do not fret
Over those who knew you when you were not yet.

For why do they come? What compels their return
To disturb your calm waters with ripples of concern?
Could it be their own failings they hoped to outrun
By measuring themselves against all you have done?

Or is it regret for chances not taken with you,
Paths left unexplored that they never broke through?
Either way, take the high road, kill them with kindness,
Their words cannot wound you, their looks leave no blindness.

Rise up from old habits of wanting their praise,  
You need validation only from your own ways.
How others once saw you matters not anymore,
Their judgment expired when they walked through the door.

Your worth was, and is, not defined by their views,
So let their eyes glaze over- you've nothing to prove.
Keep focused instead on your hopes and potential,
And watch as their doubts turn to awe, gradual.

For you are no longer that person they knew,
You've grown, evolved, and gained perspective anew.
You've nurtured your gifts, challenged your mind,
Found bringing light to others a purpose to bind.

And if they cannot see that, it's their eyes that are clouded,
Not yours that are lacking, so be not be cowed
By the ghost of past selves come to haunt you again,
Stand tall in your wisdom, much farther than them.

We all have some chapters we'd rather erase,
Lost days we remember with shame on our face,
But nothing's forever- we ebb and we flow,
And those we once were can be let go.

So shed their ideals like snakeskin, and stray
From the path their short vision dictates you stay.
Blaze your own trail, follow your inner spark,
And brighten the journey long after they're dark.

For sometimes they return, those ghosts of your past,
Thinking your fire by now has breathed its last,
Hoping to find just faint embers remain
Of the light that you held, once brilliant and plain.

But oh, their surprise at the inferno you've nursed!
While they frowned at your flickering, fanning the worst,
You've been stoking your passion and gaining control,
Now who is the fool, and who's blazing with soul?

So let them come round to provoke and test you,
Your inner resolve will shine through the rest, you
Are no longer shaken by those spectral few
Who knew you before you yourself had a clue.

For chances are you too once judged another
By the flawed perception of youth, as a lover
Of self more than others, many seeds yet ungrown,
How foolish we were before wisdom was sown!

Now you have reaped understanding's ripe fruits,
Found nourishment you sought through life's winding routes,
Learned that sometimes the surest way one can care
Is to kindly release those we once held too near.

And if they have yet to walk far down that road,
Trade accusations for empathy's golden load.
See them as children who never quite grasped
The gifts life would give if boldly unclasped.

Then few words need be spoken to explain or defend,
Simple truth of your essence will rise and transcend
Any questions of whether you still are naive,
Just smile knowingly, and let their doubts leave."
















   The poem is part of a full version found in the book “Homo Sapiens” Part Part I - XVIII, written by Mawphniang Napoleon. This book is part of the popular “Homo Sapiens” book series, which can be purchased online at various online bookstores, such as Amazon. The book is available for purchase for those who are interested in reading the complete version of the poem. Remember to get all the books from the “Homo Sapiens” series, as well as other books by the same author.   So, don’t hesitate and get a copy today from one of the many online bookstores.   Khublei Shihajar Nguh,  (Dhanewad  )(Thank you )