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I Wish I Had

Line of inquiry of Unseeking Seeker: The ego within forced me to resist But now I wish I had effused a love mist With aplomb and flair, just kind of left it there For self-aware souls passing by, who choose to pair There was a funeral for a woman not very-well liked. In fact, one of her sons kept working and did not fly the many miles away for it. Most in attendance sat way in back. Her spouse and adopted daughter praised her. Nobody else stood up to give kind words. Though her daughter-in-law, I hung back, unable to think what to say, but there was some good in her. Had her soul lingered there hearing so few words? I could have said something; I wish I had.

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Speaks Volumes

Date: 3/23/2024 4:44:00 AM

Regrets often follow the passing of someone close to us. Your poem depicts it well. Your presentation is spot on too. Well done my friend.

Duke Beaufort

Date: 3/20/2024 7:23:00 AM

Andrea, the important and amazing thing is that you have come to terms with this. Out of regret comes knowledge and understanding for the next time anything with similarity to this comes up...it doesn't necessarily have to involve a funeral. It was very kind of you to share such an intimate detail about how you feel. We can regret so much in life...I have plenty myself, but try to make up to myself and others when an opportunity arises. The fact that we know regret is itself a good thing.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 3/20/2024 8:47:00 AM

yes, I learned from this experience. I can always find something good to say about people.

Vijay Pandit

Date: 3/20/2024 6:23:00 AM

Sometimes words don't manifest how we feel--I hear the regret in your reflective write, Andrea. But, to me-- your presence spoke for you. So well delivered, to the theme!

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 3/20/2024 8:47:00 AM

thanks, Vijay

Joanna Daniel

Date: 3/20/2024 5:32:00 AM

We all regret something like this later, Andrea, well composed:)

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 3/20/2024 8:48:00 AM

Not all do, Joanna. I have talked to people about other things similar to this and found out some people hold grudges very hard. It's really too bad that some people cannot let bygones be bygones.

Michael Tor

Date: 3/19/2024 8:28:00 PM

Andrea there are not so nice people in this world and sometimes there are consequences that reveal themselves in the end. The reality you wrote reflects this and sometimes the truth hurts when we bring those we have harmed against us... Best wishes for the contest. Hugs...

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 3/19/2024 10:01:00 PM

thanks, Michael.

Joseph May

Date: 3/19/2024 5:33:00 PM

So sad that her 'lingering soul' heard so few kind words as she slipped into eternity...

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 3/19/2024 10:01:00 PM

thanks, Joseph. She dearly loved her father and mother, and I hope they found each other in the next life.

Sara Etgen-Baker

Date: 3/19/2024 4:26:00 PM

outstanding Etheree, Andrea, and a great entry for the contest. I loved the flow and felt regret at the end. I'm struggling in preparing my entry for this contest. Yours, however, is fabulous. hugs and have a great evening, Sara

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 3/19/2024 10:00:00 PM

I struggled to think of something too, Sara, and then I thought of this one thing in my life that I have regretted. When I got cancer, she did reach out to me in a very loving way. i should have at least stood up at her funeral and mentioned that!

Christina Bowring

Date: 3/19/2024 2:36:00 PM

Dear Andrea, this is a visually striking Etheree. So creative. A very moving read where you have painted a vivid scene at the funeral where hardly any emotion was displayed, any compassion. The lines,’ had her soul lingered there hearing so few words’ is so poignant. The regret in the last few lines upon reflection, is so sad. A thought provoking read. Good luck in the contest. :):)

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 3/19/2024 9:59:00 PM

thanks, Christina.

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 3/19/2024 1:55:00 PM

We all wonder what might be said of us after we leave this earth. Sad when it is not good. Have we made an impact. Does it go beyond our self-serving? Love the way you chose to convey your thoughts. Is this a true story?

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 3/19/2024 9:57:00 PM

Sadly, yes. The son who stayed home to work was my hubbie, who had flown to her state when we all thought she was dying the year before the funeral. My husband was filled with anxiety and depression the first half of our long marriage. You can take a guess what that stemmed from. Although he and I are total opposites, I am not demanding or controlling, and he always tells me this has had an impact on his life, so though we had many struggles, he is now much easier to live with. His mother had a fun side, and I was not able to get into the poem that my son was there at the funeral with me and my daughter. He decided to stand after a long uncomfortable silence and mentioned the great fun his grandparents provided for us during vacations to Arizona when we used the pool and did a few other fun things. I was proud of him for thinking to say something nice.