To the mourners round his deathbed
William Blake was moved to say:
‘Oh, if only I had taken
The time to write that play.’
Nor was William Shakespeare
Finally satisfied:
‘I know there’s a novel in me.’
(No sooner said than died.)
Beethoven in his darkest hour
Over and over he railed:
‘If only I had learned guitar
Before my hearing failed.’
In the transept of St Paul’s
Slumped Sir Christopher Wren:
‘I’d give them something really good
If I could only do it again.’
Leonardo, Mozart, Rembrandt
Led sobbing through the Pearly Gates:
‘If only I’d have…
I could have been one of the Greats.’