40 Years Late

General Poetry Human Written by Daniel Poland · Oct 06, 2026

I'm a big proponent of Rowe v/s Wade
I want to be aborted but I'm 40 years late
Time seems to stand still, but it never seems to wait
I'm a stain, I'm a stain, I'm a stain, a mistake

I don't give a fuck but i wrap myself in guilt
40 ounces to freedom but every ounce was spilled
Sitting here sober with my brain on a tilt
Flowers can be pretty until they start to wilt

My body is doing fine. but my mind is diseased
I try to make them happy but they never seem pleased
I burned all my bridges with the greatest of ease
I'm a stain, I'm a stain, I'm a stain, a disease

I think of all the chances, the chances I have blown
I turned the air rancid and I'm dancing in the storm
But I don't know the moves and I'm feeling fucking stupid
I tried to build up hope but hope for luck is useless

I see myself doing the things that I do
I burned off my wings and I never even flew
Outside of my body, Daniel, looking back at you
I can't seem to handle my peripheral view

You were once a friend until I brought destruction
Did all of this myself and I don't deserve nothing
Never tried too hard, I left myself for wanting
The death of my heart, like a ghost it is haunting
I'm a stain, I'm a stain, I'm a stain, a mistake

I'm feeling so lost and I don't know where to go
I'm feeling the cost of the death of my soul
I'm burning so hot but my body is so cold
I would love to write you but my stamps are all sold

I'd want you to know that I know it's my fault
That I know it was me that brought us to a halt
That I'll never blame you for why you never want to call
That I built myself up, just to let myself fall

I'm a stain, I'm a stain, I have stained it all
I abstain from the scene, crimes of the soul
So much pain, so much pain, so much pain I cause
I'll hide in my cave till I'm a distant thought

About This Poem

Like every great story, there was a girl. She was great, amazing even. I failed to let her know that. I worked with her. We worked with animals. I lost the greatest job I ever had with the greatest person I ever knew. I did it to myself. I'm 41 years old. Over 4 decades too late to get aborted now. So i wrote about it.

How did this poem make you feel?

Community Score

9.0

out of 10

4 votes

Optional AI-generated literary feedback.

Poem Analysis

This analysis is provided as optional literary feedback. Community voting remains the primary ranking method.

Analysis Available

The poem presents a raw and introspective exploration of guilt, regret, and self-loathing. Its merit lies in its unfiltered emotional honesty and the repetitive motif of being a 'stain,' which underscores the speaker's feelings of worthlessness. While the poem effectively conveys a sense of despair, it lacks structural innovation and relies heavily on repetition.

Strengths

The poem's emotional rawness is palpable, particularly in lines like 'I'm a stain, I'm a stain, I'm a stain, a mistake,' which effectively convey the speaker's self-perception.
The use of vivid imagery, such as 'Flowers can be pretty until they start to wilt,' provides a poignant metaphor for the fleeting nature of beauty and happiness.
The poem's confessional tone is compelling, drawing the reader into the speaker's inner turmoil, as seen in 'I burned all my bridges with the greatest of ease.'

Areas for Improvement

The poem's reliance on repetition, particularly the phrase 'I'm a stain,' can feel overused and diminishes its impact over time.
The lack of a clear structural form or rhyme scheme makes the poem feel more like a stream of consciousness, which can detract from its overall coherence.

Imagery

The poem uses stark and vivid imagery to convey the speaker's emotional state. Metaphors like '40 ounces to freedom but every ounce was spilled' and 'Flowers can be pretty until they start to wilt' effectively illustrate themes of loss and decay. The imagery of burning bridges and dancing in a storm further emphasizes the speaker's feelings of self-destruction and chaos.

Structure

The poem lacks a consistent form or rhyme scheme, opting instead for a free verse style that mirrors the speaker's chaotic thoughts. The repetition of the phrase 'I'm a stain' serves as a refrain, reinforcing the central theme but also contributing to a sense of monotony. The stanza breaks are irregular, reflecting the disjointed nature of the speaker's reflections.

Language & Craft

The diction is informal and raw, with a conversational tone that enhances the poem's confessional quality. The use of profanity adds to the authenticity of the speaker's voice, while the repetition of certain phrases underscores their significance. However, the language lacks the subtlety and nuance that might elevate the poem's artistic merit.

Emotional Impact

The poem's emotional impact is significant, as it effectively conveys the speaker's deep sense of regret and self-loathing. The rawness of the language and the repetitive motifs create a powerful sense of despair, making the reader empathize with the speaker's plight. However, the lack of structural and linguistic variety may limit its lasting resonance.

Generated by Openai (gpt-4o) on Oct 06, 2026 20:58

Comments 1

Ashley Gupton 4 days, 13 hours ago

Honesty, Self-reflection, desire, struggle, accountability and perception all hit home in a very real way with this one. I found it to portray that we create our own reality/path in what we call life with the choices we make. The best writing comes from releasing the raw realness that exists within, whatever that may contain, this was done well.

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