XI

things could have turned out differently
you might be forgiven for thinking
but I wouldn’t presume

if you’d taken another path
where the way forward was somehow
clearer instead of walking in deliberate

error even while knowing better it
would appear to me you had nothing
nothing left to lose does that mean

something
someone

what difficulty can excuse and
ought judgement ignore
dark within the heart of disbelief

or neglect that negligence