Narrative Honors Poetry Extension

Learning From Mistakes - Poem by Peter Hall

I have finally come to the place
Where things can come off the shelf
So I can try to learn from mistakes
And not be so hard on myself.

I no longer need to be opaque
It's time for me to see
That my failures and past mistakes
Do not label me.

No longer trusting what used to assure
Sorting out things that will last
Mistakes filter out what really endures
Permitting to learn from the past.

I know life has its ups and downs
I can't help things don't go to plan
But mistakes no longer bring 'that frown'
Now that I know who I am. 

     The theme of my narrative is that people can and will make mistakes but that it is alright to make some mistakes. In my narrative this theme is conveyed when I make the mistake of talking right after my teacher had told us to stop. This shows that people will make mistakes because mistakes are unavoidable. The second detail is that my teacher talked to me and told me that it was okay that I had made a mistake. This detail is huge in my narrative because this is where I had the realization that making mistakes is okay and that mistakes occur from time to time. This detail is also where I realized mistakes will not stick with me forever. I realized mistakes do not define me or any other person. The third is that I take a new approach to making mistakes because this is where I describe the change in my view that took place in the very short amount of time after my teacher talked to me.

     The theme of the poem above is that people will make mistakes but that people must learn from there mistakes and move on. A detail that promotes this theme is where Hall talks about learning from his mistakes. Also how he will not be extremely hard on himself for making mistakes because he can learn from them in the end. When Hall talks about how mistakes will not label him he also conveys his theme because to truly learn from your mistakes you can not dwell on them and allow these mistakes to categorize who you are as a person. A third detail from this poem that helps to advocate Hall's theme is where Hall states, "Permitting to learn from the past". This line develops the theme of the poem by helping us to understand that we are able to or permitted to learn from the past. That the past helps us not make the same mistakes again.