This poem came to my mind as I stared into the mirror thinking about my past. Wondering how I can achieve my future goals while being a role model and father to my young twin boys.

There’s a timeline, of sorts, built into the poem - from now to my death (“final day”). It’s meant to be read by my sons in the future as a guide to be successful in life - “Your success is from their gains.”

Below is what I’ve created after critiques from ChatGPT and friends.
Open eyes to the pain within,Past regrets are like a rain,What futures have we built for our kin?A contrast from the past and pain.Hoping to shape their world for the better,Overcome my failures, build anew.I write to my sons with this letter,To understand the world’s nature too.Tears reign through my pastlike a bullet train blazing fast.Standing before the mirror of history,Our actions shaping our legacy.Like cracked mud in the desert, my face dried.The cold voice of reason in my ear.There's only failure if we never tried.I’ll stand tall, despite the fear.The pain is clear with dry eyes,But others like me, I can see.No one alone, a life full of ties,Their solutions can be found in me.Light pierces our world, the path ahead,More clear than it has ever been.Frustrations fuel our drive instead,Time, the currency we must spend.Long and narrow is the path to success.Easy to fail and fall along the way.Try not to be conquered by the stressfor too soon you quit before your grand day.In the end, what really matter?A past recalled in tatters? Or, the many lives we helped make better,Their gains our measure of success for sure.On the final day, when we pass,I hope you look back and seeour works alone to outlastthe memories we birthed to be.Forget not, my child, the hard workto be surrounded by the love you made.Eyes closing with one more smirkas the tear of memories played.Tears reign through my pastlike a bullet train blazing fast.Standing before the mirror of history,Our actions shaping our legacy.
Here’s the second version I created after ChatGPT’s feedback.

It was interesting to get feedback from ChatGPT. While it remains very far from perfect, it’s capabilities are rather impressive.

Reference 🔗