note to self

if she can teach you one thing
the lesson will be
don't look back
not ever

not even for a glimpse
of what once was
the people and places we leave
behind
are no longer recognizable

to look back
and see everything you created
built, planted, took absolute pride in
become nothing but desolation
because the new caretakers had no idea
of the amount of blood sweat and tears
were left behind

they would never understand
how their eager desire to
start from a blank canvas of their own
could leave you paralyzed
in the wake of their off handed
destruction
of what was once your entire world