Patience
I place my regrets in Mason jars in the basement
where deprived of light,
and surrounded by stonefaced walls
(which are too busy holding up the house to judge)
they lose their fire and edge,
stop expanding.
Finally,
When enough winters of self-doubt have passed
I have the courage to bring them into
the morning light of the kitchen,
It is there I find
(although a hundred days and nights did most of the work)
I can face them with pride
because they have been contained,
transformed into something almost sweet
And I have changed too.