The Takeaway

It’s odd you would fear regret
In the last hours of your life,

As if regret in those hours
Outweighed the sum of your days,

All hours now and tomorrow,
Regrets you had yesterday.

Dying resembles dying,
A body falling apart.

Last breaths rarely resemble
A passion play of regret.

You must choose wisely now, now,
Calmly, eudaimonical,

Level-headed, unbiased,
Poppycock. If your brain rots,

It won’t thank you for this now.
What you’ve learned, you can’t keep it.

Wisdom’s not a possession,
It’s not even up for rent.

Don’t listen to advice, this
Advice included. Advice

Never saved grief accident
Couldn’t give or take away.

Save the stores you want to save—
Goods, good deeds, food, love, children.

Enjoyment’s always stolen.
What can you enjoy right now?

This dull night, this noon, this dawn.
When your end comes, you’ll be gone.