I wish I knew you better.
I wish I’d acted better.
I wish I gambled less
or at least was a better bettor.
I tried.
I dared.
I failed
and lost it all – down to the letter.
I wish…
I wish it were different.
I should’ve kissed you every chance I got.

I wish I knew what you wanted
though in retrospect
it seems so obvious.
I wish I wasn’t so stupid.
I wish I wasn’t stupid at all.
I wish I weren’t struck dumb around you now
on the occasions I get to see you.

I wish I tried harder
when there was the possibility
it could’ve done a lick of good.
And don’t get me started
on what I wish about licking…

I wish
I think
I wish I were a different person
who acted differently in almost every situation
so that I could have pleased you
which would have pleased me
which, maybe
would have been pleasant all around.

I wish
I wish.
That’s it.