Regret

I'm still kicking myself.

Regret

 

 

 

A sloucher, slender-blonde, a past pre-post-modernist

bohemian future slippery drifter grinning in one

of only two paint-flecked pairs of khakis both

now unravelling at the cuffs, tendrils of thread

lengthening with his every step.

 

 

“I’m always freezing,” he grinned. September sunlight

and his royal blue hoodie proved useless

against the cold. And when the Atlantic gusts buffeted

the left half of his jacket backward over his shoulder,

 

 

when he huffed into his balled fists

before slipping them inside his pockets,

when he invited me into his building,

the largest, warmest, farthest on campus,

the wind snatched my voice, froze my throat

shut. And we both walked home, alone.

 

Reviews

[mattavelli]

Hey, Seth, I think that pretty boy wanted you to warm up with you. Maybe he'd have adored you, and inspired by the passion, portrayed you as a god of love in a large canvas painting; maybe his greatest work. What could have been... I used to have a lot of regrets. I think my mood has changed. Haha

[Seth Cason]

Matt!!!
I thought you had vanished, too. I couldn't agree more about my god-like greatness, I mean, everybody knows that, but this dude was no Van Gogh. He was more of a bashful, short-haired blonde archetype of Shaggy from Scooby Doo. Strangely, that was no deterrent.
Hope you're doing well. See you later on your side of the neighborhood. And thanks for the review.

[mattavelli]

My pleasure :)
I haven't posted anything in a while, just lurking and harassing.

[barleygirl]

I am seething with envy for your amazing brand of unfolding imagery. You say so much with the simple straightforward authentic details you pick to use. Literally dripping with tone & mood & backstory, all expressed thru imagery. To me, that's the ultimate goal of poetry. Keep oneself out of it. Just be a sensory camera that picks up on all the senses (((HUGS)))

[Unspoken poet]

such a strong piece of poetry here, i can feel some regret in this write, all and all one wonderful write

[Seth Cason]

Hi Unspoken!
Thank you for this uplifting review. I've been away from the Cafe for a few weeks (the barista smashed a bottle of blueberry syrup over my head after I asked POLITELY for all the $$$ in the register.) So all in all, perfect timing. Thank you.

[Relic]

I like your storytelling technique. I think intuition is a strong trait to follow even if sometimes it doesn't make sense or gives us mixed signals. I like this. Great job.

[Seth Cason]

Hi Relic,
I've been preoccupied and reclusive for the past month or so, and now that things are back to normal I just wanted to thank you for your kind words.

[lightsong]

"what is yours doesn't pass you, if it's yours it will come again and find you"

[Chris Shaw]

Good to find you back here after a break Seth and returning with such a strong piece of writing on the subject of regret. Vivid in imagery and electric with anticipation until the final line brought the conclusion. Well done. I think most of us can have those what if moments as we travel life's path. Somehow as I age, I tend to think of them less which tells me I am content with my lot.

Chris

[Seth Cason]

Hi Chris, I wish that when it comes to dwelling on the past I were in your shoes, unless of course you're wearing crocs. Thank you for your encouraging words

[Chris Shaw]

I am wearing age Seth, I find that focuses my mind more in the future. Not so when I was younger.

[Seth Cason]

I understand. I find myself gathering a momentum of clarity through hindsight. Unfortunately, instead of using those resources to help smooth out the future, I find myself hammering out poems like this, literally hammered, as in each letter was written not with hands but with my forehead a a sturdy keyboard. But seriously, I've got to make peace with these little mistakes, and hurling words is my best therapy.

[Chris Shaw]

Good plan :)

[lightsong]

I have learned that real courage is not to let go of the past, to move on and heal the broken heart, the real courage is to first be healed in a healthy way not in that way of numbness, to kill fear, and then to open that heart again. I must say, your last verse is truly outstanding, it expands with feelings beyond these few lines of written words.

[Fran Marie]

Hi Seth good to see you back
at WC..those missed chances
add up to many regrets the
should of s could. of s of
life ..nice work as always

[Seth Cason]

Hi Fran Marie! Thank you for the welcome back, and it's good to be back. I look forward to Saturday's stormy afternoon so I can dive into everybody's business and get back in the swing of things. It's good to heat from you.

[Fran Marie]

you're s o welcome friend;
nice to read you once again;

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Such a wonderful piece of writing Seth job well done. Of a personal intimate moment of lost opportunity. I'm reminded of my own in life. You placed the reader right into the moment you paint in words. Continued success in your writing journey.

[Seth Cason]

Thank you, Carlos. That means a lot to me.