If Only . . . .

People of Chilmark. Thomas Hart Benton, 1920

WILLOW'S MAGPIE No. 73

If only

I had not lacked so much from the beginning,

And I had had the good sense

To choose a different path from the one I chose,

And I had had the right kind of help

On the right path,

And therefore done the opposite to what I did,

And I had not been forced to do so much of what I did

at other men's behest,  

And I had then known the half 

of what I know now,

And I had been more serious,

Or I could be more serious right now,

And I would be as lucky as some others

who don't deserve their luck

and  never valued it,

And I had ten times the worldly goods that I have now

And I could do what I simply can't achieve,

Or best of all, 

If I were born again,

Well, then . . . 

Friko speaking entirely for herself,.

Sorry, dear Readers, after 17 comments taking me seriously, I've got to come in here and explain that the whole thing is meant to be the kind of dirge which all those who have never bothered to get off their bums use to explain their lack of success in life.  I wanted to make a joke about mankind in general and those in particular, who always blame something or someone else.  My joke failed.  Friko