Age

If I could have the time again,

would I do things differently?

The girl, trying to pierce

my melancholy

states the obvious.

“Do you really think

you would do things differently?”

I had

and have

no doubts

(this at least is certain)

“Yes, there are things

I would do differently!”

She was shocked

when I told her

just one thing

I wouldn’t do.

And she immediately spotted

the butterfly effect

“But then you wouldn’t have….”

Right, and wrong.

If I could have the time again

I would spend more time with my children,

I would be more generous,

less spiteful,

more reckless,

and be as outrageous

as I could and should be.

I would be more outspoken

and less-opinionated.

Less seduced by fame

and more devoted to intimacy.

I would say “No!” more

and “Yes!” even more.

Since it is not over

tomorrow

There seems little reason

why I can’t

just get on with it