When people made my choices for me,
I should have thought what I really want and not without rationale just agree.
That guy who lecherously at me stared,
I should have made noise and not been of him scared.
When my boss wrongly on me put all the blame,
I should have said the truth and told everyone I was being framed.
That time when someone tried to embarrass and put me down,
I should have objected and not let myself become the joke of the town.
The people who told me I was wrong,
I should have argued with them and not blindly go with them along.
When all labeled me as good for nothing and a failure,
Instead of being depressed, I should have answered back with my work and let it be my savior.
Today I stand at a point in my life where there is only regret,
And I think about how things would have been different if on the right me the right things I would have said.
Note: The above poem is an excerpt from my debut poetry book A Rustic Mind.