big mistakes

when you look
back
at your mistakes, you say
to yourself
i should never should
have done this or that.
i never should
have taken
that left turn,
or bought those shoes,
or ordered indian
food.
i never should have moved
in to a high rise
building
with bugs.
i made a mistake with
that car,
i never should have picked
up that snake,
or licked that plant
that turned out to be
poison ivy.
i never should have stuck
my hand into
the fire
to see if the coals were
hot.
i never should have married
that woman
who arrived on our first date
riding on a broom wearing
all black,
with green skin
and a pointed hat.