After a recent mild kerfuffle, I mentioned to a friend, "Why don't I learn from my previous mistakes?" She gave me that closed mouth, eyebrows raised expression that implies, "Well, you said it, not me". Slightly stung, I later wrote that phrase down and today, invented a protagonist for whom it might be more self-descriptive er, possibly... Anyhow, it turned into a #2minute #acousticonetake on the perils of #maladroitness Many thanks for listening...😳

When will I learn from my previous mistakes The ones that caused havoc and for some, heartaches If I could just go back and step on the brakes To prevent the chaos caused by my previous mistakes

Now, I tread very carefully with eyes open wide To avoid any consequence where egos collide But one false step could put me off my stride Resulting in me in a heap on the curbside

I start out with all the best will in the world Not expecting a calamity yet unfurled Then the rocks and the insults start being hurled And teeth are gritted and toes are curled

When will I learn from my previous mistakes The ones that caused havoc and for some, heartaches If I could just go back and step on the brakes To prevent the chaos caused by my previous mistakes

Maybe I attract the wrong kind of attention And my shyness is mistaken for condescension Whatever I do, there's always apprehension Leading to unnecessary bones of contention

I'm willing to accept that the problem is me So here's a fulsome public apology It appears that I'm jinxed, maladroit to a T But so far, I've never caused a catastrophe

When will I learn from my previous mistakes The ones that caused havoc and for some, heartaches If I could just go back and step on the brakes To prevent the chaos caused by my previous mistakes

My previous mistakes...