The following prose, “If I Had My Life To Live Over Again,” is attributed to the late Nadine Stair of Louisville, Kentucky, USA. It is estimated that Ms Stair wrote this poem around 1976, when she was in her late 80’s/early 90’s and dying of cancer.

If I Had My Life To Live Over Again…

I’d dare to make more mistakes next time.

I’d relax, I would limber up and I would be sillier

than I have ever been this trip.

I would take fewer things seriously.

I would take more chances.

I would take more trips.

I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers,

I would eat more ice cream and less beans.

I would perhaps have more actual troubles but

I’d have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I’m one of these people who live sensibly

and sanely hour after hour,

day after day, oh, I’ve had my moments and if

I had it to do over again,

I’d rather have more of them.

In fact, I’d try to have nothing else.

Just moments, one after another instead of living so

many years ahead of each day.

I’ve been one of those persons who never goes

anywhere without a thermometer,

a hot water bottle, a raincoat, a parachute.

If I had to do it over again

I would travel lighter than I have.

If I had to live over, I would start barefoot

earlier in the Spring and stay that way

later in the Fall.

I would go to more dances.

I would ride more merry-go-rounds.

I would pick more daisies.