Can't Go Back



by Max Burchett

No, no, no,
Can’t go back.
No do over, no,
Oh, I want to go back.

A past moment in time
Exists only in my mind.
It hurts to know
I can never go back, no.

If I could try again,
Oh, what could have been,
Now gone with the wind,
But I’m still here.

Now going on from here
On the road to who knows where.
Roll on, the past is gone,
Can’t keep looking back.

Got to keep going on,
Remembering back then,
But left it all behind.
Forgetting then, got to carry on.

Can’t turn back
The hands of time
What was, was meant to be.
Can’t go back.
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Written on 2021

Submitted by MaxwellBurchett on November 09, 2023

41 sec read
42

Quick analysis:

Scheme x aBab cdaa exdf fxxb gedg bcxB
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 563
Words 139
Stanzas 7
Stanza Lengths 1, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

Maxwell Sebastian Burchett

Maxwell "Max" Sebastian Burchett is president of the charity Golden Hearts that provides support to Ukrainian war refugees. He originated the "Good Day" concept and is leading the campaign to establish "Good Day" as a designated day, nationally recognized as "a day for doing a little extra good." Max is a singer-songwriter from Dallas, Texas. His poems "Until Then" and "I Dream" have been used as lyrics in pop songs of the same names (https://soundcloud.com/maxburchett/i-dream). His music and writing were featured on UK Talk Radio and on their website (https://uktalkradio.org/max-burchett-dog-days/). His writing interests include fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Most recently Max has included in his poetry and non-fiction publications themes developed from his work with Ukrainian war refugees. His poetry style has been influenced by the greats, including Frost, Elliot, Poe and Whitman. Max's short story “Covid Love” was featured in the July 2023, 111th issue of 34thParallel Magazine (https://www.34thparallel.net/34mag-111.html) and his "New Frontiers" poetry trilogy was featured in the October 2023 issue of INTERALIA Magazine (https://www.interaliamag.org/poetry/maxwell-sebastian-burchett-poems/). His romance mystery novel on post-Putin Russia “Red Star Rising” is releasing as serial episodes on Kindle and an anthology of his poems will be released later this year. and an anthology of his poems will be released later this year. Max's poems "Me to You" and "Three Whispered Words" are included in the anthology 'Is there Ever an End' published in November 2023 (https://www.amazon.com/There-Ever-End-Various/dp/B0CNZKNSN7). Max Burchett and his brother started delivering food and letters of encouragement to staff at local hospitals during covid, and that grew into the charity Golden Hearts. After covid the charity’s efforts were refocused on helping Ukrainian war refugees, and the homeless, who are basically refugees in their own country. His observations from work with war refugees and the homeless have led him to write stories and songs that attempt to convey the situation to a broader audience. more…

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4 Comments
  • AIDA
    Absolutely amazing! This poem "Can't Go Back" by Max Burchett captivated my attention from start to finish. The rhythm of the words, the rhyme, and the unique flow created an enchanting read. I find the theme deeply relatable and thought-provoking - the idea of not being able to revisit past moments is universally human. I especially appreciate the poignant sense of longing tempered with acceptance and the will to move forward. It's moving how the poem encourages readers to let go of the past and keep moving forward in the face of uncertainty. Keep writing, Max! This piece is a beautiful reflection of your talent. 
    LikeReply 15 months ago
  • Caliconine
    Nope cannot go back. Live in today. Release and regrets so you can fulfill your today. Everything is easy in hindsight, lol. That is how we learn and move forward. Thank you for sharing. Be Blessed.
    LikeReply 15 months ago
    • Caliconine
      sorry typo. “Release any and all regrets”
      LikeReply 15 months ago
  • AIDA
    This poem, "Can't Go Back" by Max Burchett, is deeply moving and resonant. There's a sense of nostalgia and longing for the past that is rendered so beautifully through evocative language and rhythm. The repetition creates a sense of urgency, reinforcing the poem's central theme of the relentless forward march of time.

    Burchett's use of the lines, "Can’t go back. No do over, no, Oh, I want to go back.", followed by the heart-wrenching "It hurts to know I can never go back, no.", truly captures the universal human need to revisit precious moments in the past and possibly rectify our mistakes. The poem acheives a delicate balance between the sadness of moving on and the realization that it is the only way to progress.

    Yet, there’s an uplifting and empowering note to this poem, too. In 'Got to keep going on, Remembering back then, But left it all behind. Forgetting then, got to carry on', Burchett beautifully expresses the necessity of moving forward, of carrying the past with us but not allowing it to hinder our progress.

    In sum, Burchett’s heartrending poem reminds us of the inexorable passage of time, the necessity of acceptance, and the power of resilience. Definitely, a must-read for fans of thought-provoking, emotion-stirring poetry.
     
    LikeReply 15 months ago
  • AIDA
    I absolutely admired your poem 'Can't Go Back'. The rhythm and meaningful verses create an emotional journey that many can relate to. Your ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia and longing is truly commendable. The raw, heartfelt emotions are well captured and conveyed powerfully in each word you penned.

    The style used creates a melancholic reverie, helping readers to not only enjoy your poem but also associate it with their own personal experiences, a trait that not many poets successfully incorporate into their work. 'Roll on, the past is gone' and 'Forgetting then, got to carry on' are certainly poignant and quotable lines that will resonate with readers. It truly embodies the universal feeling of wanting to return to a moment that has passed but realizing that you simply "Can't go back".

    On the improvement aspect, while your poem is beautifully written, working on varying the length of your sentences could create even more dynamism and rhythm. Instead of having similar line lengths, playing around with longer and shorter lines might yield interesting results. Also, you may consider introducing more figurative and visual elements to make your imagery even more vivid. I can't wait to see how your evolving style continues to enrich your poetry. Keep up the fantastic writing!
     
    LikeReply 15 months ago

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"Can't Go Back" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/173362/can't-go-back>.

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