Briefly Guilt-Tripping Myself

In my peaceful garden with my cat, 

I remember old failures of understanding – 

a young woman who tried to be kind and wanted friends, 

but I reacted to her uncongenial attitudes

and never got back in touch. Saved myself

much embarrassment no doubt, as we could never

have been real friends. But I just think now

I could have been kinder myself, I could have done it better.

Then I recall that the leeches I’ve known

are always hard to pull off, and they drain 

so much blood before that, and the extrication
is messy. Better, perhaps, never to let them get a grip.