constructing poetry

Wishes

that a friendly instincts instead
of shyness had prevailed
on that plane with a child
kicking in the seat behind.
A smile could have made
that mother’s journey
much sweeter.

that instead of lingering
for endless days of waiting,
clinging to something
that never could live,
it could have died cleanly.
Two lives become increasingly
difficult to unmesh with time.

that a single word,
carelessly spoke,
had failed to emerge
and a friendship remain
untainted. Respect is so
simple a word
that can be heard so differently.

that there could have been
one more hour to spend
in the NICU, listening
to the flutter of heartbeat,
breathing together
before letting the baby
go. One more minute.
One more instant. Five
days was eternally too short.

Prompt for: April 22, 2016 ▼

Subject or Theme: Regret(s) of something you haven't done.
Word(s) to Include: emerge, endless, flutter (or any derivatives of these words)
Forbidden Word(s): I, me, he, she, they, them, her, him, regret (or any derivatives, compound or hyphenations of these words)
Additional Parameters: At least 30 lines
Remember, do not use forbidden words ANYWHERE, including title or the brief description.