A reflective poem about life’s unexpected turns—the dreams left undone, changing relationships, mistakes that taught us lessons, and the quiet truth that we can lose ourselves trying to please others. Still, beyond all that we lost, hope stays: the story isn’t over, and we still hold the pen.

When Life Slipped Away

So much was meant to happen—
yet never did.

And so much I never wanted
came knocking anyway.

Those I wished to keep
slowly walked away;
those who stayed
became my destiny.

I searched for answers—
in relationships,
in parenting,
in myself—
but life remained silent.

I waited for happiness,
but worry arrived first.
I looked for success,
but regret followed me home.

Somewhere along the way,
my laughter grew quieter,
my dreams grew smaller,
and I became too busy
trying to please the world
to ask myself what I wanted.

I made mistakes easily,
but learning from them
took years.

I thought being a good human
meant keeping everyone happy.

Now I know—
sometimes we lose ourselves
while trying to be enough
for everyone else.

Life did not go
the way I had planned.

Perhaps it was never supposed to.

Some chapters were painful,
some unfinished,
some simply slipped away.

But I am still holding the pen.

And perhaps
that is enough reason
to write one more beautiful chapter.

— Vijay Verma

Categories: kavita

Tags: #भावना, #creativity, #Family, #Life, #Love, #mental health, #poem, #wellness, writing