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life in reverse
by Charlie Morgan
i wouldn't do this
and i'd probably do that;
i would find that blind man,
the one daddy said
would pay $50 to see me.
before, every time
i ran outside to get my money,
he was gone.
this time i'd not quit eighth grade basketball;
and i'd kiss all the girls, not just Karen.
i'd use cliff notes for a reference,
not for the whole term paper.
i'd not ask
a man, crying, watching his burning house
for a watermelon.
sarah thompson would have my illegimate kid;
and i'd be a father at 15, unable to spell it.
class clown
would be someone else; not me.
i'd learn.
and my mama would not have to eat the scowls
of all the rich business owners
as their snouts root for money.
i would put the ball down;
read a book, and write
eulogies for dead ants.
04/10/2008 Posted on 04/10/2008
Copyright © 2026 Charlie Morgan
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Keith McFarlane on 04/11/08 at 04:50 AM yes, there's always the woulda shoulda coulda -- but then, if you had turned out different, we would not be the beneficiaries of your wisdom....this one takes me back to the many many things I was too timid to do early in life. I probably shoulda stuck with the poetry in school too, but ispent way too much time in front of the tv and just generally goofing off. very good write, chaz -- thanks for sharing... |
| Posted by George Hoerner on 04/11/08 at 03:13 PM As always a really nice write! I've been asked before what I'd change and I've always said "nothing". All the mistakes are mine and though there are things I wish I'd done differently I wouldn't be me. I still have all my wants, my wishes, my sorries, but I also have my feelings, though not as many as I'd like, that I did something right. |
| Posted by Alison McKenzie on 04/11/08 at 04:39 PM Maybe. Regrets are funny. But if I had to guess, I'd bet my life that you made the best decision you could with the data available at the time - always. It's what brought you here, anyway, and for whatever that's worth, I'm glad! |
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