Wish I Knew

I wish I knew
How to be be smart.
How to gauge people
From inside out,
Rather than outside in.

I wish I knew
Not to waste a moment
Whenever it came by
With someone,
Than hoping it was someone else.

I wish I knew
When to say things
That I so badly wanted to,
Than shut up and shut off,
Only to speak what didn’t matter.

I wish I knew
To listen to my heart,
While I still could,
Than regret what is left,
What could have been.

I wish I knew
It was better to be a fool
Than the eternally wise.
For the wise can only teach,
While the fools really live.

I wish I knew
Then what I know now.
But the time has changed.
Now I hope I remember
Everything I wish I knew…