We wouldn’t be us

This is for anyone who has ever wondered, whether their lives would have been any better if they had trod a different path on their journey through to the present day.

We wouldn’t be us

If we could go back to our teen-age years,
And start all over again.
How would we change, the things we have done,
That reside in our memory lane.
Would we try harder at school,
Would we never be naughty..but nice.
Would we listen more to our parents,
When they try to give us advice.

Would we keep our room tidy,
Never complaining or moan.
Never waste parents cash,
Spending hours on the phone.
Would we come home on time,
So our parents..don’t worry.
Would we eat what’s dished up,
Instead of fast foods or curry.

Would we look before leaping and think before speaking,
Not believe that we’re always right.
And remember that every argument,
Has two sides..before we fight.
Would we be more thrifty, not blow all our cash,
On top of the range clothes or shoes.
And not follow like sheep, down a one way path,
Stay away from cigarettes and strong booze.

And in later life..with a husband or wife,
And children and pets and a house.
Would we be happy, with the path that we trod,
Or the person we chose as a spouse.
Who would we change? or what would we change?
If we could change anything at all,
Would we have been happier, as we trundled along,
If we’d just kept our eye on the ball.

And if we had got, every single thing right,
And life had flowed smoothly along.
Would we have missed the elation..of winning sometimes,
Or the battle..when some things went wrong.
The roller coaster that’s been our life,
With its ups and downs by the score,
From teenage years..to the present day,
Could have been different..but maybe a bore!

So we sit and reflect on our earlier days,
Re-examine each path that we took.
Would we really change..the choices we’d made,
Would our life..have been a happier book.
Well..we wouldn’t be us, we’d be someone else,
Not the person we’ve grown up to be.
Not the person loved, in spite of our faults,
By our friends..and our family.

© Martin Silvester 3/3/2016.

If you enjoyed this, you may also be interested in reading my first book of poems called Last Apple on The Tree