in the long run
of this world
there are more things
dreamt of,
etc., but you turned down
an opportunity
to go and learn of them,
preferring to stay home
than to be disappointed
as you have been
by so much.

what
a marvelous chance to
unlearn this kind of failure —
deciding not to leave,
letting
the lump in your throat
subside on its own
in say a year or so;

leaving you with a sort of regret
that only rises over
a third strong drink
late at night when you dare
to close your eyes
and open up,
somehow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
onward,
T