Handcuffs

Two
fine
cold
lines,
Ringed around my wrists

Not unlike the line
between
Is
and
If

At times
the first rings a bell of regrets
At times
the other chimes a subjunctive "what if?"

What if certain "have beens" never were
What if certain "nevers" were have beens?
I say "what if" is never certain
I say "everything happens for a reason"

I say "Sure, whatever gets you through the day." Only, "almosts" don't happen at all. Like say,

The time I almost made the best of
The time I almost went there
The time I was almost there when I was there the time I almost made myself worthy or worthwhile almost made you proud almost thought aloud the times I almost did the things that I didn't because "it wasn't the right time" when time is time is time

Two fine cold lines
Ringed around my wrists

It's a fine line
between If
and Is.

Unconvinced?
I am.

You see the simple truth is,
I only did what I knew how
when then
was now

And before
is for knowing more, somehow
When then
will be now.