We have time - inspirational poem

[Victoria Lake]

Once in a while I like to read this poem

 

We have time for everything.

To sleep, to run to and fro,

To regret having mistaken and to mistake again,

To judge others and to forgive ourselves,

We have time for reading and writing,

For correcting what we wrote, to regret ever having written,

We have time to make plans and never respect them,

We have time to make illusions and search through their ashes later on.

We have time for ambitions and diseases,

To blame it all on fate and details,

We have time to watch the clouds, the banners or some ordinary accident,

We have time to chase our wonders away and to postpone the answers,

We have time to crush a dream and then to reinvent it,

We have time to make friends, to lose them,

We have time to learn our lessons and then forget them quickly afterwards,

We have time to receive gifts and not understand them.

We have time for everything.

 

There’s no time for a little bit of tenderness.

When we are about to do this – we die.

 

I have learned some things during my lifetime, things that I’m now sharing with you.

I have learned that you cannot make somebody to love you,

All you can do is to be the loved one.

Everythings else… depends on the others.

I have learned that no matter how much I might care,

Others might not care at all.

I have learned that it takes years to earn somebody’s confidence,

And only a couple of seconds to lose it.

I have learned that it is not WHAT you have in life,

But WHOM.

I have learned that charm could be of use for only about 15 minutes,

Afterwards, you’d better know something.

I have learned that you should never compare yourself to what others can do better than you,

But with what you can do yourself.

I have learned that it doesn’t matter what happens to people,

It matters what I can do to help.

I have learned that in whatever way you might cut things,

They will always turn out to have two sides;

I have learned that when you have to depart from your dearest ones, you should do it with the warmest words;

It could be the last time you see them.

I have learned that you could carry on for a long time

After stating you cannot take it any longer;

I have learned that heroes are those who do what’s right, when they ought to,

Regardless of consequences,

I have learned that there are people who love you

But don't know how to show it.

I have learned that when I’m upset I have the RIGHT to be so,

But I don’t have the right to be mean as well.

I have learned that true friendship continues to exist no matter the distance,

And that goes for true love too.

I have learned that if somebody doesn’t love you the way you’d like,

It doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all their heart.

I have learned that no matter how good a friend might be to you,

He will hurt you from time to time,

And you’ll have to forgive him.

I have learned that it’s not always enough to be forgiven by others,

Sometimes you have to learn how to forgive yourself.

I have learned that regardless of how much you suffer,

The world won’t stop spinning because of your pain.

I have learned that the past and circumstance might alter your personality,

But YOU are responsible for what you become.

I have learned that if two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other

The fact that they don’t fight doesn’t prove that they are in love either.

I have learned that sometimes you should put a person first, and not her deeds.

I have learned that two people can look at the same thing,

And see something totally different.

I have learned that in spite of any consequences,

Those who are fair with themselves reach further in life;

I have learned that your life can be changed in a matter of hours,

By poeople you might not even know.

I have learned that when you believe there’s nothing more you could offer,

You will always find the strenght to help a friend who is in need.

I have learned that writing,

Just like speaking,

Can soothe your pain.

I have learned that the people you love the most,

Are taken away from you far too soon…

I have learned that it’s too difficult to realize

Where to draw borders between being kind, not hurting the other, and firmly sustaining your ideas.

I have learned to love

So I can be loved. - O. Paler