What I Regret
By Nina Cassian
. . . never having heard the voice of the Dodo bird . . .
. . . never having smelled the Japanese cherry trees . . .
. . . never having punished the lovers and friends that
deserted me . . .
. . . never having asked for honours that I deserved . . .
. . . never having composed a Mozart sonata . . .
. . . never having realised that I’d live long enough to
regret all the above . . .
. . . and much, much more . . .
Caught in a hovering series of declarations about unfulfilled wishes, this poem suddenly catches you out and we arrive almost beached up in the preciousness of a present moment that so many never have the luxury to enjoy.
And such a beautifully reflective use of ellipsis!