a
poem written by an old man
If
I had to live my life over
I'd
dare to make more mistakes next time.
I'd
relax. I would limber up.
I
would be sillier than I have been this trip.
I
would take fewer things seriously.
I
would take more chances.
I
would take more trips.
I
would climb more mountains and swim more rivers.
I
would eat more ice-cream and fewer beans.
I
would perhaps have more actual troubles but
I'd have
fewer
imaginary ones.
You
see, I'm one of these people who live sanely
and
sensible hour after hour, day after day.
Oh,
I've had my moments and if I had to do it again,
I'd
have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else,
just
moments.
One
after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each
day.
I've
been one of those people who never go anywhere without a
thermometer,
a
hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute.
If
I had to do it again, I would travel lighter next time.
If
I had to live my life over, I would start barefoot earlier
in
the spring and stay that way later in the fall.
I
would go to more dances.
I
would ride more merry-go-rounds.
I
would pick more daisies.
