“Potholes of Regret” and Other poems by L. Ochoa

Lisa Ochoa lives in Tucson, AZ. Her works explore the complicated world of intimate relationships and the things we do to survive them. Recently, her work has been featured in Beyond Words Literary Magazine and at Bridge Eight Press. Her poem “Lost & Found” is a 2023 Musepaper Prize winner.

Potholes of Regret

I am the road less traveled
packed with potholes of regret
pathways pitted with wishes
left behind towards forget

sidewalks lined with dreams
tossed away not sowing seeds
humps of what ifs gather
slow my breaking speed

washed away by wonder
un-detoured destiny leaves
bridges made of promises
self-deceit and make-believe

still the horizon beckons
vanquished by the wind
whispers of urgent warning
drowned out by ancient sin

LUCK

no child
should ever
have to think
about money
whether they have
too little or too much
those with too little
deserve better than
to be exposed and
identified as less-than
because their shoes are old
and their lunch is “free”
those with too much
would do well to understand
what it means
to need and do without
to want and not get
to ask and be refused
all children should
grow up knowing that
wealth and poverty
are not character traits
and that luck of birth
good or bad
is just that

luck

Guilty

you made me feel guilty

for needing
for wanting
for wishing
for asking

you made me feel guilty

for seeing
for feeling
for hearing
for questioning

you made me feel guilty

for hurting
for bleeding
for surviving
for being

you made me feel guilty

for existing

The Chip

holding me down
holding me steady
a weapon
a shield
an anchor
a trophy
an excuse
an impetus
a bond never broken
bearing the weight
of generations
it sits
on my shoulder

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