Let Them Be: The Power of Letting Go, Letting Life Flow
The poem “Let Them” is one of those pieces of writing that doesn’t just stay on the page—it takes root in your soul and, somehow, gets tangled up in your thoughts long after you read it. If you haven’t heard it yet, it’s one of those simple yet profound works that captures a complex truth: sometimes, we have to let things happen. And not just happen to us, but happen for us, through us, and around us. Let them, as the poem goes, and just let life be.
If you’ve ever found yourself trying to control every single aspect of your life, trying to plan your way out of every potential problem, you’ll understand why this poem has such a universal pull. It speaks to that primal need we all have to control our destinies. But here’s the thing: control is an illusion. And the more we try to grip it, the more we squeeze the life out of things that were never meant to be forced.
So, what does the poem “Let Them” really mean? What are we supposed to “let” happen, and why should we? Buckle up, because we’re going on a journey. And spoiler alert: you might just feel a little lighter by the end.
The Grass That Covers All
In the iconic lines of Carl Sandburg’s “Grass,” the speaker is the grass itself. “I am the grass; let me work,” it says. The poem focuses on the aftermath of war, covering the battlefields of places like Gettysburg, Waterloo, and Verdun with the earth, as though the grass itself is the final caretaker. It’s almost like the earth, through the grass, is quietly whispering, “Let me do my job. Let me cover this. Let me heal this.”
There’s a certain comfort in that. The grass is patient. It doesn’t fight the earth, nor does it wrestle with the past. It just works. It doesn’t concern itself with the dead; it doesn’t dwell on the bloodshed or the chaos. The grass simply grows, because that’s what it’s made to do.
And isn’t that a powerful metaphor for life? What if we could just let things be? What if, instead of trying to fix every single thing that goes wrong, we allowed ourselves to be like the grass—working quietly, effortlessly, without the constant weight of guilt, fear, or the need to control everything?
Imagine how much lighter we would feel if we could let the things that hurt us simply pass, like the grass does over the fallen bodies of battlefields. Sure, it’s messy. Sure, it’s painful. But nature, in all its wisdom, knows that healing comes when we stop fighting, stop digging into the past, and just let things grow.
The Art of Letting Go
We live in a world where we are told to “fight for what we want,” “never give up,” and “make your own destiny.” While there’s value in perseverance, there’s also a great deal of power in surrender. You know, that magical art of knowing when to let go.
Sometimes, we hold onto things—people, jobs, goals, even resentments—far too tightly, convinced that if we just try harder, we can make them work. But life is not a machine that can be tuned to perfection. It’s a messy, chaotic, unpredictable force, much like the earth in “Grass”—sometimes, things are simply out of our control, and it’s okay to let them go.
The poem doesn’t ask us to ignore the hard stuff or pretend it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t even suggest that we forget about the battles fought or the lives lost. What it’s offering is perspective. It’s saying, “Yes, things are hard. Yes, there is suffering. But let me do my work. Let life heal itself. Let it move on.”
And when we finally accept this, when we finally accept that we don’t have to control everything, we begin to experience the peace that comes from just being—from being part of a cycle much bigger than ourselves.
Letting Life Flow
Now, let’s talk about the line “Let them tattoo it.” This is where it gets interesting. It’s not just the act of letting things go; it’s also about making space for the permanent, the lasting moments that define us. A tattoo—whether literal or metaphorical—is something that stays with you. It’s a reminder, etched into your skin, your heart, or your mind. It’s the story you tell yourself when life gets difficult, and it’s something that, no matter how much you may try, you can’t erase.
Let them tattoo it. Let them mark their lives in ways that are bold, permanent, and real. Let them experience, let them change, let them be.
And just like a tattoo, life has a way of leaving its own marks on us. Some of them are painful, some of them are beautiful, and some of them are just… there. The point is, they shape who we are. When we let life tattoo us, we stop resisting. We accept the ink, whether it’s the bright colors or the messy lines.
But there’s freedom in that. The freedom to not always strive for perfection, to not always erase our past mistakes, but to wear them proudly as part of who we are. Let them stay. Let them be.
The Strength in Surrender
You may have noticed by now that this poem, and the phrase “Let them”, isn’t about passivity. It’s about strength. It takes a certain kind of strength to surrender to life, to let go of expectations, to stop trying to shape things into something they were never meant to be. It’s a quiet kind of courage—one that doesn’t shout but rather moves with grace.
This is where the poem truly resonates with me. The speaker, in this case, the grass, doesn’t make a big deal out of its work. It doesn’t demand acknowledgment or recognition. It simply does what it’s meant to do. And isn’t that what we all want—to find our purpose, to live our truth, and to let go of all the noise that distracts us from what really matters?
Life is not about forcing, striving, or endlessly pushing. It’s about finding the flow. It’s about doing what you can do, and letting the rest unfold as it will. It’s about peace, not perfection.
How to Let Them
So, how do we put the wisdom of this poem into action? Here are a few thoughts:
- Let Yourself Feel – Don’t bottle up your emotions. Let yourself grieve, let yourself love, let yourself laugh. Emotions are a part of life. Feel them. Let them work through you.
- Let Go of Control – You can’t control everything. You can’t control the weather, the economy, or other people’s actions. Let go of the need to dictate every aspect of your life. Trust that things will work out, even if it’s not on your timetable.
- Let Others Be Who They Are – Sometimes, we try to change people to fit our expectations. But the truth is, people grow in their own time and in their own way. Let them be. Let them live their lives.
- Let Life Flow – If you’re struggling with a situation that feels out of your control, try to shift your perspective. Instead of fighting it, see if you can flow with it. Let it be what it is, and see how you can adapt, rather than resist.
The Bottom Line
Let them is a phrase that resonates in so many ways. Whether it’s about letting life be, letting go of the past, or letting others make their own choices, it’s a gentle reminder that we don’t have to fight everything. Sometimes, the best way forward is simply to surrender, trust, and let life unfold. Because in the end, just like the grass that covers the earth, life will work itself out if we only let it.
So, next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a deep breath and whisper to yourself, Let them. Let the world be. Let the chaos settle. And let the beauty of life flow through you. You might just find that things are exactly as they’re meant to be.
Let life tattoo you, and wear the marks proudly.
