Review of Turn Back Time

Saturday 12th November 2011

Summary

In Turn Back Time, the speaker reflects on the hypothetical possibility of returning to the past and altering key moments. As they ponder what they might change—whether to undo pain or to conform to societal expectations—the speaker grapples with the tension between personal evolution and the desire for love and acceptance. Ultimately, the poem reveals that embracing one’s true self, with all its struggles and lessons, is the only path forward, as the speaker realizes that the growth they’ve experienced wouldn’t have been possible without the very challenges that once seemed like burdens.

Why This Poem Matters

The poem begins with the universal question of whether we would change our past if given the chance. This question is a profound one because it taps into the human desire to erase regret or undo painful experiences. The speaker, in asking, “Would I change a thing?”, immediately brings us into a reflective space. They question whether the desire to undo past suffering, or to return to the “simplicity” of a previous relationship, is worth forsaking everything they’ve learned:

“Would I take away the pain / Would I succumb to the desire / To be your darling again”

These early lines express a longing to go back to a time when life was simpler, possibly when love seemed more straightforward, or when the speaker was more “compliant and tame” to others’ expectations. But as the speaker delves deeper into their thoughts, they begin to recognize the value of the lessons learned through hardship and personal struggle, suggesting that this is a part of their growth, which they wouldn’t give up:

“Perhaps I would collapse myself / Into ego seduction and personal gain / Perhaps I would close down, shut off / From the responsibility of staying conscious”

This internal dialogue serves as a warning to the self about the dangers of falling back into old patterns—of choosing comfort over growth, or allowing ego and societal pressure to dictate their path. The speaker acknowledges the ease with which they could have followed the path of least resistance, but this is also framed as a denial of the authentic self, a suppression of their soul’s deeper purpose.

The poem takes a turn when the speaker realizes that their struggles, including the pain of love and loss, have served a higher purpose. It is through the challenges—the “burr” or “thorn” in their soul—that they have been pushed to evolve and fulfill their potential:

“For without that burr / Thorn in my soul / Splinter in my heart / I would never have been spurred on”

This imagery of the “thorn” in the heart is powerful, suggesting that pain and difficulty, though uncomfortable, are often the catalysts for growth. The speaker understands that these hardships are not only part of their personal evolution, but they are essential to their unique journey:

“I would never have been spurred on / To go the extra hundred thousand miles / Light-years, lifetimes, incarnations”

Here, the speaker recognizes that the distance they have traveled—spiritually and emotionally—couldn’t have been achieved without the transformative power of their challenges. The very pain that once seemed unbearable has propelled them into an expansive journey of self-awareness and spiritual development, which the speaker now embraces fully. This idea of distance, whether measured in miles or lifetimes, reinforces the deep, almost cosmic nature of this personal evolution.

The closing lines encapsulate the speaker’s acceptance of their path, as they acknowledge that they cannot—and would not—want to go back. The journey they’ve undertaken, with all its trials and triumphs, is part of their destiny:

“So be it / And it is done.”

The use of “So be it” invokes a sense of finality and acceptance—an affirmation that the speaker has made peace with their past, recognizing that each step along the way was necessary for their growth.

In Conclusion

Turn Back Time is a meditation on the inevitability of change, growth, and the acceptance of one’s journey. The speaker acknowledges the temptation to undo past pain, but they ultimately realize that their hardships have shaped them into who they are today. This realization transforms regret into gratitude, as the speaker understands that each challenge has played an essential role in their evolution.

The poem’s strength lies in its honest exploration of the tension between the desire for love and the necessity of self-empowerment. The speaker must choose to evolve, not only for their own growth but to honor the deeper, divine calling they sense within themselves. By the end, the poem leaves the reader with the profound idea that personal transformation often comes at the cost of comfort, but it is through embracing the difficulties of life that we fulfill our true potential.

A beautiful poem, one that examines the interplay between self-acceptance, love, and the push for continual growth.