I Wish I Could - Thoughts, a Poem

    Sometimes regret and reproof can help heal, or assist in present or future dealings. Life. Death. Heartache. Joy. Peace. Glory.

    I wish I could change things about me,

    Or change some choices that I made

    Perhaps I could have tried harder, worked harder...

    Achieved more, cared more, been more, done more.

    Avoided some pitfalls. 

    Yes. 

    

    I could be better now, based on past choices and decisions.

    I could have passed that test, passed that class, studied harder to 

    Achieve.

    Accomplish.

    Overcome and succeed.

    But I failed. I did not overcome all the challenges.

    I fell short, repeatedly, consistently, and sometimes thoroughly.

    Yes, I lost a few.

    I can see patterns, I can attest to negative cycles, and these thoughts are there with me still.

    I can see positives, too.

    Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and others famously sing that "regrets,", they have a few

    And they did it their way.

    Did I do it my way? Did I have regrets, and all the above?

    Yes.

    Yet, and yet, I cannot deny the joys and pleasures, the life experiences and shared triumphs, and even failures and frustrations, often shared with family and loved ones, we have had victories and pleasures

    Sweet memories and amazing feats.

    Not all bad, not all regrets at all.

    And yet, and yet, I wish I could:

    Be the peace negotiator that stops the Israelis and the Palestinians from slaughtering each other.

    Be the guy or interlocutor that prevents the Russians from assailing the Ukrainians

    Help the illegal immigrants find work, a home, a better life.

    Heal the sick and infirm, or the hungry.

    I wish I could simply be the best husband and father, neighbor and colleague.

    I wish I could do or create something that would save millions, 

    Or bring joy to millions,

    Or even just one.

        Me, or, you, or us.

    My family. What do I wish I could do?

Stop hunger.

Harangue hate and curb it to the wind.

Put huge dents in cancer, and just the preventable diseases.

Do all things great, or some little things great, 

Or a few things decent, or okay.

    Okay?

I wish I could do a few things.

And I do.

I wish I could tell you, or not tell you and brag and boast, but I wish I could

Recount to one and all, that what I did counted, that it mattered.

That I have done things, and heard things, and seen things

That I have accounted for all the cool and great things of others.

I watch, I observe, I retell the laudatory efforts of others...

I wish I could:

Get you to love it all.