Regret

I knelt down at a little creek To cure my aching thirst. But before the water touched my cheek It asked me something first: “Whose reflection is this here? Does it have a name? It has your eyes and look of fear Yet I know it’s not the same.” The silent voice then went away To leave me all alone. And in my thoughts the question stayed, With the answer still unknown. I gazed into the rippled face And, though I thought it strange, Those eyes, that hair, the look of grace Were once mine before I changed. Now my eyes are dark and weary, Worn out from hiding pain. My tears are dry, my mind is dreary And my life is down the drain. So I dove into the crystal stream To save that fragile child, But as I leapt into the dream The waves just glared and smiled. The creek was winding and much too wide The current took me fast. I tried to swim against the tide But I could not change the past.