What Might Have Been

I promised my children just the other day
I’d slow my rush, my hurried pace

That I’d talk more to him and her each night
And sing some songs and play pillow fights

Neither her first recital, nor his first ball game
Too busy for both for my mind to reclaim

The dances she danced, the pitches he caught
A proud parent’s face, I’m sure they’d sought

The time flew by, the years went fast
Empty promises, yellowed photographs

She asked for so little, both asked for less
My promised vows failed stand the test

And so now I’m older, my children both grown
The clock kept ticking into what’s unknown

The four saddest words of tongue or pen
I think to myself, “What might have been?”