Semi-Po’ Poetry – Weltschmerz

I have my regrets

I regret the last kiss, never the first
I regret more of the past than what’s in my future,
I regret imperfections in me and
I regret any less thans others might see,
I regret not going when I could have gone
I regret leaving, when I should have stayed

I regret every time I felt envy, all desire to possess
I regret wanting to be something I’m not
I regret being one of the great pretenders,
I regret sitting, when I should have stood,
I regret my silence when I should have spoken,
I regret thinking too much, and writing too little

I regret what I did late, that I could have done early
I regret too few helloes and too many goodbyes
I regret all my losses that were not good lessons
I regret any pain that I have ever given others
I regret what I knew, when I didn’t know at all
And I regret all my ignorance, when I should’ve known better

I regret my hate, instead of love’s compassion,
I regret when I failed, because I didn’t try harder,
I regret knowing now, what I didn’t know then
I regret learning later, what I should’ve known sooner,
I regret ever killing anything for sport or for pleasure

I don’t regret being human,

But it is so very human to say, “I regret…”

***

©Bill Reynolds 12/31/2018

***

“For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.

We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.”

***

Look both ways, to last year and to next.
May fewer gaps in your future bless your past in every way.
Happy New Year, Y’All

Note: For the definition of Weltschmerz, please click HERE.

9 thoughts on “Semi-Po’ Poetry – Weltschmerz”

  1. Remember L’esprit de l’escalier? —Stairwell humor. What you wished you had said after the door closed, or after the debate was over? It’s never too late to regret. People only regret when it’s too late.
    I don’t regret reading this post. Well done sir Bill

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  2. Regrets, we’ve all had a few. Mostly though I realize I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the choices I’ve made, the good and the bad. And, I try and learn from mistakes of the past so as not to repeat them. Happy New Year, Bill. All the best to you and yours in the year ahead.

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  3. Best to learn from our regrets and then toss them aside. Mine would definitely be regretting what I didn’t say, especially sitting when I should have stood up for others. Lesson learned, moving on.
    Regret is VERY human, and I loved this piece.

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  4. Ah yes… I could take quite a few on this list for my own.
    I know I said regrets serve no purpose. That’s not quite true, is it? They serve s reminders or lessons to do better next time.
    Beautifully written.

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