Poetry: Let it Go By Doctorkaren Kanto

As I was struggling along my path

Stumbling, faltering

Barely carrying my load.

I happened on an old man

watching me with knowing eyes.

"If you want to move down your path, my child,

want to keep all that load,

one short piece of advice I give you:

Let it go.

Let it go, let it go, let it go.

Don't need to drop a thing,

Don't need to push it away.

Don't need to clasp it tight.

Don't need to pull it in.

Just let it go

Let it go, let it go, let it go.

I shook my head, did not understand.

I clutched my load and pressed on.

I happened upon a wise woman

gazing on me with a smile.

"That load is heavy and hard.

Yours to manage, yours to own.

Life is harder, though,

when you hold it so tight.

Let it go. Just let it go.

No need to lose it,

no need to fight it,

just let it go.

Let it go, let it go, let it go.

I almost cried, the words made no sense.

How could I abandon that which I held?

How could she tell me

to do what I could not?

  How could she be that mean?
I held my tears, contained my anger
    and forced myself forward.
I happened upon a vision
    looking at me with sadness.
    "The load defines you,
        so you think it must be grasped
            lest you lose your self.
     But the load is not you,
        only your past,
            inseparable,
                it has nowhere to go.
        Let it go, and it will not vanish.
        Let it go, and you will not cease.
        Let it go and release the fight.
        Just let it go
            let it go, let it go, let it go.
I sobbed in frustration, cried in pain,
    aching from the strain
        tired of the drain
            I could not go on again.
        I could not carry it any more,
            and let it go,
                expecting to die.
        ...and found myself still alive
            still the person I knew as me,
                but lighter
                    more agile
                        moving with easier grace.
            Breathing at first softly,
                lest the spell be broken.
    It did not break.
The path was not smooth,
    but traversing it was somehow easier.
        Obstacles that had beset me
            no longer were in the way.
        That which had been hazard
            now seemed more resource.
                and all that was required
                    to be free and light and safe
                        was to just let it go.



And I happen upon you
    and look at you with a quiet smile
        and a bit of sadness
            for the load that weighs you down.
And knowing how hard it is to hear
    how confusing it is to think
        how frightening it is to do
            offer the only advice that ever helped:
Let it go. Let it go. Let it go.