I Wish

When the bigger kids bullied me in elementary school When they teased me, told me I wasn't cool I wish I hadn't just kept quiet, enduring their ridicule When I was a bit older And didn't know "how to act with girls" Wish I'd stood my ground and told them I didn't care for them or their social swirl When in college the pressure grew to try some marijuana Wish I'd simply told my friends that "No," I didn't want to And when at work my boss required me to lie to clients outright Sure wish I'd had the guts to put up a better fight For all those times I chickened out or just didn't have it in me My regrets grow as deep as the depths of the sea As episodes unresolved fester still, in internal infamy

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Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 8/18/2018 7:13:00 PM

What is important is you learned and grew from the experiences. Congratulations on your well deserved placement Gershon! : )

Gershon Wolf
Date: 8/19/2018 12:48:00 PM

Thank you for your visit, Connie, and for your kind words! :) gw

Fauxcroft Wade

Date: 8/17/2018 6:25:00 AM

Wonderful piece of work, though never regret that from which we grow stronger from. Faux

Gershon Wolf
Date: 8/17/2018 4:17:00 PM

Thank you, Faux, and I will take your advice too. Thanks, gw

Susan Gentry

Date: 8/16/2018 12:07:00 AM

Congratulations on your win. Just the fact you have regrets shows what kind of man you are. Well-written and real, applies to many of us. Sometimes all we can do is not let it happen again. :)

Gershon Wolf
Date: 8/16/2018 10:59:00 AM

Your sincerity shines through every word you write, Susan, and it's much appreciated. I thank you for the compliment you gave me. May I always be worthy of it. Thank you, thank you. Best wishes always, gw

Curtis Moorman

Date: 8/15/2018 9:04:00 PM

Gershon, what an honor to share a 2nd place win with the gifted poet that you are. Yes, I too succumbed to things in much the same way as you until I joined the Air Force and was asked by a full colonel Chaplain to lie about some 'misdirected' equipment items. I refused to carry out his 'order' but in the long run, he was the loser. I vowed then to stand my ground. Hence, my entry, No Guts, No Glory earned me my 2nd place win. So, Brother, don't beat yourself up any longer. Rise above it.

Gershon Wolf
Date: 8/16/2018 10:57:00 AM

Curtis, I think that the honor is all mine, that I'm sharing it with you! ... And thanks for sharing your personal tale of triumph! ... As for me, my real bugaboo was a father who was abused as a young lad, and did the same to me and my sisters. Should have fought back at some point, but never really did. Just avoided him after age 22. Never really emerged from his shadow til he passed away... That's water over the dam now. I've more than made up for lost time (since age 39). Hats off to you, sir!! Best wishes, Gershon

Sandra Haight

Date: 8/15/2018 7:11:00 PM

Many of us have those "if only" moments, Gershon. You have portrayed "I wish I had" very well, and congrats on your fine Podium win! Sandra :)

Gershon Wolf
Date: 8/16/2018 10:58:00 AM

Appreciate your visit and your generous evaluation of the poem , Sandra! :)

Greg Gaul

Date: 8/14/2018 6:57:00 PM

Truly intimate and moral account of greening that many of us share one way or another but few dare to admit. Poetry is about honesty and courage and you, Gershon, are a poet. Congrats on your win.

Gershon Wolf
Date: 8/14/2018 8:46:00 PM

Whoa! Much appreciated, Greg … I would venture to say that it takes one to know one ( a poet ), that is. Best wishes, Gershon

Jan Allison

Date: 8/14/2018 4:32:00 PM

hindsight is a wonderful thing GW and there are times I wish I;d spoken out too. Many congrats on your win:-) hugs Jan xx

Gershon Wolf
Date: 8/14/2018 8:45:00 PM

Thank you so much, Jan. … Now all we need is foresight, and we'll be all set! Best wishes, Gershon

L. J. Carber

Date: 8/14/2018 9:42:00 AM

A poem that most of us can relate to-- and your work shows you have gone far past all those 'twits' in your past. (My wife taught me not to look back, one of her many gifts to me.)

Gershon Wolf
Date: 8/14/2018 9:52:00 AM

What an insightful comment. You are so right... Have deliberately not gone to high school reunions because of the kind of advice your wife gave you! Can gladly say that I just missed my fiftieth a week ago. Trust me, no one there missed me one iota!! They all know how to find me. Not one did. Enough said... Thank YOU! ~ gw

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 8/14/2018 7:58:00 AM

Way to go congrats on your win.

Gershon Wolf
Date: 8/14/2018 9:23:00 AM

Thank you so much, Richard. Best wishes, Gershon

Maureen Mcgreavy

Date: 8/14/2018 6:57:00 AM

No luck involved love, a winning poem! Congratulations hugs and a victory lap ;) xomo!

Gershon Wolf
Date: 8/14/2018 9:23:00 AM

Now, now, my dear. There is always a little luck involved in everything. We desire it to be of the good variety, of course... By the way, the Biblical word for luck is 'star/mazel. So the Jewish expression Mazeltov! does not mean Congratulations! (although it is used that way). It means, a good star, one to hitch your wagon to... Thank you, as always for your unflinching encouragement! ~ Gershon

Michelle Faulkner

Date: 8/13/2018 11:08:00 PM

Congratulations on your win, good job!

Gershon Wolf
Date: 8/14/2018 3:39:00 AM

Michelle, thank you, my friend, for the constant support you've given me. Best wishes, Gershon

Line Gauthier

Date: 8/13/2018 9:55:00 PM

Congrats on your awesome podium finish winner, Gershon.

Gershon Wolf
Date: 8/14/2018 3:38:00 AM

Thank YOU, Line, for sponsoring this contest, for the opportunity you gave me and others, and for your generous evaluation of the lines I wrote. Much appreciated. (Soupmail). Best always, Gershon

Michelle Faulkner

Date: 8/8/2018 10:59:00 PM

Wonderful line "regrets as deep as the depths of the ses," wishing you luck in the contest-

Gershon Wolf
Date: 8/9/2018 11:01:00 AM

Thank you kindly, Michelle. ... And I'll certainly need some luck. Thank you for sending some my way! ~ gw

Maureen Mcgreavy

Date: 8/7/2018 9:06:00 AM

This is so well composed my friend, if for contest, good luck! xomo <3

Gershon Wolf
Date: 8/7/2018 10:59:00 AM

Maureen, thank you from the bottom of whatever heart I may have for your encouragement: Yes, this is for a contest, and I do hope that I have a bit of luck and come away with a placement. Best wishes always, Gershon

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 8/6/2018 5:47:00 PM

Great one! We learn from our experiences never quite ready to shine at the beginning. :)

Ilene Bauer

Date: 8/6/2018 4:24:00 PM

hey gershon! i guess we all have regrets and ways in which we wish we had acted differently. i'm sure most of us can relate to your poem. well done!

Gershon Wolf
Date: 8/6/2018 10:22:00 PM

Thanks a lot for your thoughtful comment, Ilene! ~ Gershon