Another Second or Twelve

If only I had
another second or twelve
to think of how to
respond and do so
accordingly to fit
what the circumstances needed
so I could change the response
that ended in me defeated,
I needed that extra
moment to think
but it couldn't be afforded
before time did sink.
The sentence required
an altered structure
for an outcome to change
to lead to an alternate future.
That future was optimistically
anticipated ahead
of its fruition
that is now dead.
The plan I had
fell on its face
before it left
its starting place.
If only I could
have had the time
to speak exactly
what was on my mind,
but alas I acted
far too slowly
for thoughts to turn to words
in a motion planned so poorly.