I'm such a lazy bum...I've done no creative writing for over last decade. I don't count articles I've written related to my profession and have had published in some newsletters and journals.

I look at some of the poems I wrote as a teenager..a few were published in national magazine for teens. I look back on this.."wow", did I write that? And those poems I like best, still do evoke some similar visual images. of course, I didn't write poetry on my inner angst. The poetry was on the external environment and natural surroundings. Hmmmm, seems similiar to why I like painting landscapes but not people.

I was never a short story writer.

Your poetry that you wrote so young :), should be a reflection at that point in time. It is valuable as is. Better, to take similar topic but write now in a completely different way reframed, without using the old poem for reference/structure.

Unless you can somehow weave an old stanza with new stanza in some discernible theme for reader.

Interesting.
I will think for a while but my instant thought is
not to edit.
May be good to further develop certain pieces that touch you greatly.

Re reading my earlier academic essays hit me in their formation.Some passion.
And that mirrored my enthusisium.
By the time I was doing post grad work I became good at giving what was expected.Both concepts are valid.

However my poetry as I believe are part of my identity (Are my unshed fears and tears... my joys) so some earlier works are profound...show stages and growth.

Mountain ash

I wouldn't edit, but perhaps put dates on them so it's a reflection of your voice at that time. It also has to do with preserving history in the making.

OH Meredith, I wouldn't edit. Instead, maybe add postcripts, addendums, updates... which would make the work more interesting still... then five to ten years from now, do the same again. How lucky you are to have your work to revisit, thoughts to re-ponder... I'm envious!!!

Meredith, you could edit but also keep the original and date both as Dotsie suggested.

I wouldn't edit - what a great "journal" reflecting who you were at different stages. If there is a particular topic that intersts you, it might be fun to write a new poem and then compare to find the changes. Who knows - maybe there is a book in there somewhere. For sure, it is a great legacy for your family. I agree that all work needs to be dated. That way you can see what you wrote in comparison with what was going on with your life at the time. If you are ever famous, then people will know about you!

Meredith, I'm with the others who say don't edit. Those works are a snap-shot in time. When I have paintings I don't love, I tear them up and use the pieces for collage. So I've retained the work, only re-mixed. Kind of like the music of the time, same music, remixed all shiny again. Don't fix things, there is probably nothing to fix. You have evolved, so you have what was, and what is.

Sounds abit messy to take an existing painting that you finished ages ago and paint it differently.

Well, you know the old technique of black-gessoing the whole painting over...and then have a black tabula rasa for next painting.