Our yesterdays

<br>Personally, for what it's worth to express an individuals idiosyncracies, I prefer Angeline's suggestion. I don't think the "and" and the "to" really provide alternate meanings. For me it is simply that the "and" is weaker producing a messier relationship between past and present whereas the "to" gives a stronger power to the working of the past on the now.<br><br>

That being said, and it truly is a nit-picking issue, I think this poem is a gem. I'm going to make a copy and haul it out to stare at from time to time in the next little while.

Very elegant. I understand Angeline's suggestion, though I think the choice of words depends on whether you consider past experience to be something that actively shapes one's character (so that "to" makes sense) or whether it is some kind of epiphenomenon, in which case "and" seems more appropriate.

The balance of line length and spacing fit the content perfectly, serve as just the right backdrop for this one stark thought. I especially like the last two lines and the somewhat archaic syntax because it gives this poem the right feeling of gravitas. It is clearly not intended to be a frivolous piece and that phrasing helps set that tone. If I were to nitpick (as I'm often wont to do!) I'd consider replacing "and" with "to" to give more a suggestion of progression. That may not be what you want, but it did occur to me. All in all a fine piece of writing, something I've rather come to expect from your poetry. :-)

Recommended in today's new poems reviews.

God that was good! No waste, just pure "perfect". Thank you. Deep bows.

I find myself asking this very question... though you do it much more poetically... Love this little poem. I hope you don't mind... but I have a strong feeling that I'll be quoting it in future conversation.