Author’s note: This one’s from way back; it’s a poem I wrote in high school, and I fear it rather shows. But I published a blog post recently about the importance of paying attention and it reminded me of this poem. So here it is, for your enjoyment.

Regrets

If I could have these moments to do over again,
a life time to repeat,
feet retracing steps in a new/familiar way.
My beginning would become my end
along the same path,
leading forward into the darkness.

If I had these years to try again,
I’d want to spend more time
just remembering, just watching and noticing
as the time slips by.
I spent so many years,
head down as I hurried, walking briskly
from one place to another –
I forgot to look and listen.

My eyes saw pictures in the concrete beneath my feet
because the same old grey/black surface
spotted with old chewing gum, threaded with mossy crevices
was endless – neverchanging.
My feet walked on because I demanded it of them,
but there was no wonder,
no momentary pause, eye fixed on some sight in the distance
captivated.

I did not realize or comprehend
the daily beauty I was missing:
the wheeling bird I did not look up to see,
the petals tumbling from spring-time cherry trees,
the way the cat across the road looked up as I passed by,
and the smile of the woman on the street.
I’d cherish these moments from the beginning,
if I had mine to make over.