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.