Had I Listened

Recalling bad advice received from a poetry prompt.

Photo courtesy of Antoni Shkraba via Pexels.

Had I Listened

Had I listened to you

the man I am today

wouldn’t be standing here

because there would be

no way I’d be alive

if I followed your ultimatum

you declared that I needed

to propose marriage to you

on the one-year anniversary

of our first date

because you made it

plain and simple

clear as crystal

poetry wasn’t your thing

and knowing you

the way I did

there wouldn’t room or time

devoted towards creative energies

that nourish and sustain

my soul like ambrosia

so had I listened to you

I would deny myself

the power to achieve

my absolute best self

instead, I’d be

struggling for