Not regret at what could have been said
but regret, half way down, at what was said
(… this will be called the fifth tread of ten).
Not only regret at what was said
but that it was said before it knew it was said
(… this will be called the sixth tread of ten).
Not only regret at what had been said
but that it will cause other things to be said
by way of reprisal for what was said
and by way of knowing will be said again
and so much regret is a foot mid-stride
on what will be called the tenth tread of ten.
