--- SORROW AND REGRET ---

By John Herlihy

The connection unmistakable between sorrow and regret;

They both often contain elements that we wish to forget.

Regret stirs up unpleasant memories that seem on borrow;

Sorrow smothered in the shadows of an endless tomorrow.

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Regret stirs a tidal urge within us designed to displease;

Sorrow contains a recurring rhythm filling us with unease.

Regret with its tight little coil that is so little understood;

Sorrow spreads like butter filling up the grains of our wood.

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Regret beating out its steady rhythm like a pulse in our head;

Sorrow beating out its steady rhythm like a pulse in the heart.

Regret leaves us wondering about all that has gone wrong;

Sorrow leaves us feeling wounded in the echoes of its sad song.

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Regret and sorrow, as dissimilar twins, wearing a perpetual frown;

One flickering light, the other fading flame, a wheel running down.

Regret calls back all those memories that within us simply drift;

Sorrow seems a lingering presence, a shadow that will never lift.

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(c) John Herlihy 31 October 2018