Regretful

Published by

j re crivello

on

By John RC Potter

“Birds in the Setting Sun” painting is by the author’s god-daughter, Nisa Winter.

Up at 4 AM daily.

Then a day in the work world.

Coming in the door,

in the early evening,

with a head that aches,

and feet that throb.

Finding it difficult to think,

let alone to talk,

let alone in a second language.

You came to visit me

with your parents:

My beloved god-daughter,

the centre of my world.

I tried to be hospitable.

But my exhaustion

slipped through the cracks.

And my patience was

as worn as

an old linoleum floor.

You and your parents left

the room and returned.

You were carrying a birthday cake

and singing to me

in Turkish and English.

İki Ki Doğdun! Happy Birthday!

My heart tugged,

pained,

full of regret.

The Years…