Kelly-Anne Riess

You never know how your life would have gone if you made different choices. Things always only continue to go forward.

If I Gave Up
by Kelly-Anne Riess

I would have followed you

to Edmonton

found a job waitressing babysitting

even though I have three degrees

a temporary fix

while you finished school

near mountains where you climb

I wish I'd known you

when you didn't know what you wanted

then maybe you would've followed me to the Peg

I could never live in Manitoba you said

would feel bad if I gave up

anything for you

so you ended it

even so you couldn't stay away

visited me every summer

until she moved in

after graduation you went up north

how's that better than Winnipeg

you work 20 days on

fly down to her on days off

it could be me

"If I Gave Up" by Kelly-Anne Riess, from To End a Conversation. © Thistledown Press Ltd., 2008. http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php?date=2009/10/11