retrospect

in retrospect

there is only time

that can never be retrieved

when what has been

overlooked

becomes vibrant &

takes the forefront of the

mind,

plaguing the dreams &

enhancing the

nightmares,

making it hard to focus

at work, making the hours,

the days, the weeks, the

months & the years

all drag far beyond what

one might have been

capable of, just before

they began to dwell

on “what might’ve been,”

“what could’ve been,”

“what should’ve been,”

but all that which

just did not pan out---

there are the savage regrets,

those people that were

treated poorly, neglected

or even abused,

who now flourish

(and you know they flourish)

amidst the past where you left

them,

face down in the dirty curb

water,

as if at the time

they meant absolutely

nothing &

now, the irony is that

this is exactly how you feel &

there is no way to change

it.