regret one
was quickly gone
a cool surprise
among known eyes

regret two
the poser who
stood alone
stared me down

regret three
came to me
in a place full of ghosts
and rising smoke

regret four
just one more
and then retreat
a route complete

regret them all
the short, the tall
in old front-rooms
and sun-speared tombs

for when I think
I’m through the door
I see a hole
not mined before

September 2006