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Regrets

Benson Chukwueke

I chose the wild road to run
I thought to stray away was fun
So I turned a deaf ear to my father's call
I thought my mother was old fashion after all
So I threw tantrums back at her

At sixteen, I thought I knew better
I knew the answer to all life matter
Only to find out later
I do not even have a smatter

Self-knowledge comes with time
Sometimes at dead time
By the time I knew who I'm
I was no longer in my prime

I have become such a jackass
Fallen from grace to grass
Living a fast life that slow me down at lost
And paying the price at high cost

O my God, am tired!
Yes, am tired
Am tired of just living to survive
But what can I do now to thrive

About this poem

16 years is a very crucial teenage age of vulnerability, especially in making and taking decisions that could affect your entire lifetime. There's a lot you don't still understand at this age, why it is very important to still see your parents as mentors and not old skool or out of fashion mum and dad.

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Written on October 18, 2010

Submitted by Benny11 on October 27, 2023

Modified by Benny11 on October 30, 2024

44 sec read
155

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABBC CCCC DDDD EEFF GGHH
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 657
Words 146
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 5, 4, 4, 4, 4
Full analysis for Regrets »

Benson Chukwueke

 · 1971 · Owerri

Owerri, Nigeria since 1971. This is how I process and express my innermost cogitations; sitting back with pen and paper, painting words and polishing them until they become flowered verses. I guess for these actions, I could be called a poet or what do think? more…

All Benson Chukwueke poems | Benson Chukwueke Books

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1 Comment
  • Benny11
    Benny11
    The poem "Regrets" reflects on the consequences of youthful arrogance and rebellion against parental guidance.
    It chronicles the speaker's journey from a rebellious youth who disregarded wisdom and authority to an adult facing the repercussions of those choices.
    The poem explores themes of regret, self-discovery, and the realization of wasted potential. It emphasizes the painful awareness that self-knowledge often arrives too late, when one's prime has passed, leading to a sense of lost opportunities and a life lived without fulfillment.
    The concluding plea expresses a deep weariness and resignation, grappling with the irreversibility of past decisions and the bleakness of the present situation.
    Overall, the speaker seems to hold the opinion of youth to submit to the guidance of their more experienced parents and guardian.     
    LikeReply4 months ago

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"Regrets" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 Nov. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/171996/regrets>.

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