Small child what are you?

Future or past
A mold cast
Catalyst of failures yet viewed
Intentions often misconstrued

Tears that stain the face
Attempt in vain to erase
The words once spoken
Bones once broken...

Small child will you be able
To stem the tide, turn the table
On this cycle so old
Its origins have grown cold

Destiny laughs at the circles we live in
Sees the situations we've been in
Knowing full well you'll repeat
Born to us, born to defeat

Is there even a possibility
That you'll surmount the probability
Find the door through which to run
Look beyond what we have done

With purpose lost long since
What will it take to convince
That your trial must be the end?
My small child will you...

will you break
or learn to bend?