by Elsie Duggan
Member since:
November 8, 2006

What If - GWWE - Wednesday Writing Essentials

March 22, 2011 12:38 AM UTC
views: 0 | 14 people recommend this | comments: 59

 

I ask myself almost every day

What if I had persisted

In going to pick her up in my car

Even though she resisted

 

What if she had just stayed at home

And I took the kids shopping with me

I had done that many times

What if she'd listened to my plea

 

What if I just got a list

Took the kids out of her hair

Would things have worked out differently

Would she still be here

 

What if she napped while we were gone

Sleeping and resting peacefully

I came home with the kids and put things away

Kissed her head so tenderly

 

What if fate is all mapped out

Nothing I did would have changed a thing

For if the accident hadn't happened

Who knows what tomorrow would bring

 

I can drive myself insane

Asking myself this same question

What if I could reverse time

Answers, too many to mention

 

What if, what is the sense to those words

For you can't change the misery

Those words are useless once something has passed

What has happened is history

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

WHAT IF...it was you. What if the thing that you look at on TV and say “Oh my, how horrible” was your life and not just some far away thing in a far away place. Now I know some of you out there have been the other person, or been through the natural disaster/accident/great loss. I am not asking you to tear your souls asunder writing for my prompt, but it surely makes for better writing when your heart is involved.

Please respond by Wednesday the 23rd, put Wednesday Writing Essential in the title and tag you post GWWE so that I can find it!


Comments: 59

Diane Huizenga Mar 22, 2011, 12:58am UTC
wonderful
Elsie Duggan Mar 24, 2011, 1:20am UTC
Thank you Diane, love, Elsie
Kathryn Flynn Mar 22, 2011, 4:12am UTC
I could tell immediately what it was about; do not torture yourself... I tell my kids I worry about them every single day. It is in our Mom Chromosomes. Our real Mom Genes.
Elsie Duggan Mar 24, 2011, 1:21am UTC
I know Kathryn, thank you, it is in the genes for sure, These thoughts just won't go away, and now have a set for Mark, love, Elsie
Pothus I Mar 22, 2011, 6:09am UTC
I'm sorry for your loss. Each night I visit the past in fitful dreams trying to change it. But I can not. May you find peace.
Elsie Duggan Mar 24, 2011, 1:22am UTC
Thank you Pothus, I am sorry you are feeling these things too, most difficult to deal with, May God Bless you and give you Peace, love, Elsie
JOHN BECK Mar 22, 2011, 6:41am UTC
Amen to the last two lines.
Elsie Duggan Mar 24, 2011, 1:22am UTC
Thank you John, love, Elsie
J. Reid Mar 22, 2011, 6:41am UTC
Smiles!

___Thank you for sharing with: Not Gathering Dust!
Elsie Duggan Mar 24, 2011, 1:23am UTC
Thank you J, love, Elsie
Bernard C. Mar 22, 2011, 8:43am UTC
Very well written and good use of the prompt - thanks for sharing :-))

Thanks for submitting to
The Surreal Circus.
Elsie Duggan Mar 24, 2011, 1:23am UTC
Thank you Bernard, love, Elsie
Tracy Fabre Mar 22, 2011, 9:07am UTC
To echo Pothus up there, may you find peace.
Elsie Duggan Mar 24, 2011, 1:23am UTC
Thank you so very much Tracy, love, Elsie
Steph-in-NE ..... Mar 22, 2011, 9:17am UTC
I ask myself this question alot of times,, about my folks or things happening,
my dad once told me if you go thru life what if, you will never know the what is such as great things in life,,

you have such a great aspect on the simpliest words
Elsie Duggan Mar 24, 2011, 1:25am UTC
Thank you Stephanie, true , your dad was right, every experience is a lesson learned but some are harder than others, love, Elsiie
Busy Buzzy Bee 'Gather Proud Mamarazzi' Mar 22, 2011, 11:14am UTC
Your words are felt and left me in pain.
Elsie Duggan Mar 24, 2011, 1:25am UTC
Thank you Bhawana, didn't mean to cause you pain, but know how you feel, I love you, Elsie
Richard Thuss Mar 22, 2011, 11:15am UTC
Great, Elsie, but oh so sad. A new version of the old saying: "Of all sad words, of tongue and pen, the saddest are these: It might have been.
Elsie Duggan Mar 24, 2011, 1:26am UTC
Thank you Richard, that is a truism I believe, love, Elsie
Ann Marcaida Mar 22, 2011, 12:57pm UTC
Beautiful expression of survivor's guilt, Elsie. Thanks for sharing with Gather's Best Writers and Artists. Now featured.
Elsie Duggan Mar 24, 2011, 1:27am UTC
Thank you Ann, and thank you for the feature,love, Elsie
William Dotani Mar 22, 2011, 1:33pm UTC
You express deep sorrow and in stanza 6 wisdom. I sometimes wonder what if I had done this or that when my brother died. This is history, but there is a scar that will never go away.
Elsie Duggan Mar 24, 2011, 1:28am UTC
No , William, no matter how I try to put it out of my mind, and will be 11 years this August, it is right there all the time, I know everyone questions what could I have done, and am doing this again for Mark, still in the middle of that one which will be a year in a couple of months, time flies, take care, love you, Goodnight, Elsie
William Dotani Mar 24, 2011, 2:39am UTC
No one questions what you could have done. Life contains many sad hypotheticals. One of the saddest times in my life was when a very friend dieed at the age of 41. We had a nice Sunday together. He had a stroke and died on Tuesday. He was under a lot of stress. Could I have done or said something to help him? I don't know. He was as close as a brother to me. His death still hurts. I'm a very private person and I don't make friendships easily. My friend was a very good honorable family man and I miss him. You are right, we never lose the what if.
Elsie Duggan Mar 24, 2011, 4:03am UTC
Sorry for your loss of a good friend William, so glad you had that experience, we always miss those we love, for the love does not die, nor the memories we've made. Goodnight again William, I love you, Elsie
Angela A. Mar 22, 2011, 2:34pm UTC
Wow, that was so deep. So, intense.
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Elsie Duggan Mar 24, 2011, 1:29am UTC
Thank you Angela, love, Elsie
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Mar 22, 2011, 5:27pm UTC
I live with a few "what if's" myself, but I try not to live with regret.
Elsie Duggan Mar 24, 2011, 1:30am UTC
I do not have regrets Michelle, just a hard time forgetting the whole thing, and wishing I had done something different, but as I said, if it is meant to be, nothing can ever change it, so have accepted it, but still on my mind, love, Elsie
Marie J. R. Mar 22, 2011, 6:33pm UTC

Good Day
Good Day Comments



Super write my dear,,,Bless you,,,
Elsie Duggan Mar 24, 2011, 1:31am UTC
Thank you so much Marie, love, Elsie
Larry H. Mar 22, 2011, 9:06pm UTC
I ask my self that same question lot of times Or ask my self
"I wonder" guess it kinda is asking the same thing.
Elsie Duggan Mar 24, 2011, 1:32am UTC
yes, it is the same thing Larry, but we never can redo anything, can we, so I am careful to be kind to everyone I know, never know when it is the last time you can see or speak to them, take care, love, Elsie
Larry H. Mar 24, 2011, 6:16pm UTC
When I was working I would hear voice telling me when I was on the way home to slow down, or not go a certain way. Been glad I listen many a time.
stephen berwaldt Mar 23, 2011, 12:12am UTC
Wonderfully poignant...the "what if..." scenario we all torture ourselves with... I enjoy how you lead us down the path to your scenario and allude to the event and let us surmise and elaborate...I wonder how many different "accidents " were envisioned? Probably as many as readers of this lovely submittal...

Now featured in the Triple Name Club.
Elsie Duggan Mar 24, 2011, 1:34am UTC
Thank you Stephen and thank you for the feature, yes, I imagine many have had loved ones in accidents, and this will bring it to the fore, but I do keep
thinking about it, without dwelling on it, as I have had to accept it, and go on, love, Elsie
Jackie T. Mar 23, 2011, 12:37am UTC
nicely penned...unfortunately, it seems like we have to always ask ourselves those questions so frequently
Elsie Duggan Mar 24, 2011, 1:35am UTC
Thank you Jackie, I am sure everyone does, love, Elsie
Alison H. Mar 23, 2011, 12:51am UTC
We all do have those "what-if's". So sorry for your loss, Elsie.
Elsie Duggan Mar 24, 2011, 1:35am UTC
I know Alison, and thank you so much, love, Elsie
Priya P. Mar 23, 2011, 6:16am UTC
It was truly a great use of the prompt but more importantly also a great baring of your soul. I imagine this was quite emotional as you wrote it. I can feel that in the words.
Elsie Duggan Mar 24, 2011, 1:37am UTC
It is always difficult to write about this happening to my only daughter, but it seems to want to be written if I am given a chance, many people know the story as I have done it in so many ways already, yes, emotions rise to the surface while writing, love,, Elsie and thank you,.
brian bennett Mar 23, 2011, 4:41pm UTC
Elsie, that was an incredible piece, sorrowful as well. Thank you for your submission to GWE and you have been Featured!
Elsie Duggan Mar 24, 2011, 1:37am UTC
Thank you Brian once again, and thank you for the feature, love, Elsie
Lynn P. Mar 24, 2011, 6:12am UTC
My Mom died of a type of cancer no one could blame on smoking. (They do anyway, but it is not linked to smoking. She was the first non-Pacific Rim person to get it.) With that, I've got no "What ifs?" to hound me. Of all the things I regret, her death may be one, but it has never come down to anything I could have done differently.

This poem gives me something of an idea of the torture, and determination, required to keep on going. I've written about lessons learned by simply watching the determination in my mother's eyes, when she knew, but kept fighting. Your words give me the same determination, too. Thank you.
Elsie Duggan Mar 25, 2011, 1:46am UTC
Thank you Lynn, my mother also died of cancer, in those days, 63 years ago when they found it, there really was no treatment, and when I asked what kind it was, they said on a life giving gland, I think perhaps ovarian caner, don't know. I know I could, like you, have done nothing about that .
My mother also gave me great strength while growing up, I was but 23 when she passed away and thankfully just married. Don' t know what I would have done without the support I had. This poem is about my daughter who was tragically taken from us at the same age as my mother was when she passed away, an awful coincidence, and I said at the time, if this doesn't kill me nothing will, I am still here today, and can't believe it, having lost since then a my husband a brother and my son. Sheer determination keeps me going as well, love, Elsie
Christina A. Mar 24, 2011, 9:16am UTC
Elsie, you make me chuckle in your last poem and shed a tear in this one. You show so much feeling in all you write.
Christina A. Mar 24, 2011, 9:17am UTC
oh...maybe it was a poem after this that made me chuckle....just the order I'm catching up.
Elsie Duggan Mar 25, 2011, 1:47am UTC
Thank you Christina, I do write silly and then sad, often, so understand , easy to get them mixed up, thank you so much for reading me, love, Elsie
Christina A. Mar 25, 2011, 9:02am UTC
I look forward to your posts, Elsie! Take care!
Renita P. Mar 24, 2011, 11:13pm UTC
This comment is to let you know that your content has reached 50 views and has been removed from "Let’s Get To Know Each Other." Thanks for posting.
Elsie Duggan Mar 25, 2011, 1:47am UTC
Thank you Renita , love, Elsie
William Dotani Mar 27, 2011, 2:10am UTC
What if I had a normal day? My caretaker (nurse) hadn't seen me since January, so he was coming by and he brought along a doctor. It was quite a nice gift and we talked quite extensively about my health problems for almost an hour. We of course talked about other things, but not a word about hairstyles. After this my caretaker had promised to show me healthy juicing techniques I have a good juicer, which I bought 4 years ago and I've only used it for a couple of days. He made something that looked like it would be dripping from the monster of the green lagoon. He raved about the taste. I drank it, but not with enthusiasm. Just took it easy. It was cold but I went outside and walked 90 minutes. I watched the Hockey game, then fell asleep. I still feel a bit tired, but I know I won't be able to get back to sleep until I clear my head.
Goodnight and sweet dreams of 3 feet of snow headed your way. Twice at night the snow shall fall and look inside your windows at your white socks and the snowflakes in unison shall say, "Does she walk on us gingerly in those?'
P.S. I gave the good doctor a 2 lb jar of raw honey. Would you believe he opened it up and ate it on the spot?
Elsie Duggan Mar 27, 2011, 3:35am UTC
If the three foot snow fall is true, I am going to shoot myself:), and yes, glad you saw your doctor and think it great he was enough of a human being to eat your raw honey. Years ago, I mean in the 60s, Bill had a psychiatrist
that was driving by our home on his way home, and knocked on our door.It was 11:30 Pm. All the kids were sleeping as in those days the Late show was on and we were enjoying quiet time together. He asked if he could come in and relax before he went to his house where all his teenage kids were still up and noisy, so we had tea. Just goes to show you , they have their problems too. I hope he gave you good advice on how to feel better, goodnight and you have sweet dreams, love you, Elsie
Elsie Duggan Mar 27, 2011, 3:36am UTC
P.S. I don't wear socks to bed :)
William Dotani Mar 27, 2011, 4:07am UTC
That is nice civility. I'm dropping off into la la land.
Elsie Duggan Mar 27, 2011, 4:19am UTC
Right behind you, sleep tight, love, Elsie
Donna C. Mar 28, 2011, 4:41pm UTC
Elsie, this is so touching.
I think we all have 'what ifs', don't we?
I feel so badly for you when you are feeling this deep, deep loss.
I know that nothing can take the pain away and I am so sorry.
Wish I had a majic potion for you.............

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