and walk back
it all happens once
but if I could
if I could convince time
to retrace its steps
tell it it forgot something over there
and it believe me
tell it that there was this girl
I should’ve treated better
that love is a better word
in my mouth these days
that there is a letter I wrote
I hid it between my pride
and lack of confidence
I would tell time
that there is a teacher I loved
and never said thank you
and a teacher I hated
and never said thank you
or I’m sorry
if I could tell time
that I’ve learned how to shadowbox with fear
and hell yeah I’m scared
but I’m not afraid
there’s a difference
I would tell time
it is a waste
to want everyone to like you
all we ever have is a fistful of friends
like fingers decades to count on
if I tell time
that there was a class I cut
that I want to sew back together
that I want to bring a Band-Aid
rubbing alcohol and my brain back to
that I could tape
superglue
something
I’d be there I’d show up
I could put it back together
I know I could put it back together
if I could tell time
that I would raise my hand
not being afraid that everyone
would think I am smart
that I would raise my hand
not being afraid that everyone
would think I am dumb
if I could tell time
that there are broken pieces
i need to pick up
you know some shattered glass
and dropped promises
things that crack
when we don’t hold them tight enough
I don’t understand why it’s hands
don’t hold things tight enough
but I can’t tell time
nothing that it would hear
i can only stare at its face
to see what time has to tell me
so when I glance at my watch
realize that this will only happen once
I choose to live full to die empty
because who knows when it’ll be the last chance…
that we have
Marshall Davis Jones is the founder of MindBodySpeak, is a communication expert, and a recent grad of MEA’s “Bajaties” cohort that focused on Love, Death and Human Connection.