Regret

By Fatima Mackizadeh

Embers glow, my arms move on their own

fingers scald, sensing the heat,

Ouch! I bleat

Longing for my ancient self,

nostalgia mingling with smoke & sorrow

intriguing life, I’ve lead,

amassed a myriad of regrets

If I sum them, I’ll fill a wall

When I picked up the phone, and made that call,

when I didn’t call at all,

when I said those horrid words,

departed, delayed, destroyed

on & on & on

Why was I that obtuse?

Give me back my 2010, I want to be 15 again,

textbook age, to start o'er

foundation of my finale,

a hero, in a novel

smiling wide, I roll.

By Fatima Mackizadeh